WALLS OR GATEWAYS?

MHA'S BORDER PUSH VS. MEA'S ACT EAST PULL

- By Pamreihor Khashimwo

Introduction

India’s eastern borders hold immense strategic and economic value, especially in the Northeast, which borders Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, and China. These borders serve as a geopolitical bridge between South and Southeast Asia, shaping India’s internal security concerns and external diplomatic ambitions. This has prompted a dual policy approach: while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) emphasises securing borders, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) promotes regional integration via economic, infrastructural, and cultural diplomacy.

The article examines whether India’s eastern boundaries are becoming walls through securitisation and fencing or gateways through connectivity and cooperation. Analysing historical context, current policies, and future implications, it aims to evaluate how India can reconcile these divergent approaches to craft a coherent eastern frontier policy.

Historical Context

The northeastern borders were shaped by colonial-era decisions that ignored local ethnic and cultural dynamics. After independence, India struggled to manage these boundaries amid internal insurgencies in Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. The Kargil War and rising unrest in the early 2000s prompted a hardened border policy led by the MHA, which focused on deploying military and paramilitary forces to control insurgency and illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the MEA’s “Look East” strategy, later upgraded to the “Act East” Policy (AEP), was launched to foster ties with Southeast Asia. AEP emphasises connectivity, trade, and cultural diplomacy, positioning the Northeast as India’s link to ASEAN. However, this vision often conflicts with the MHA’s security-first agenda.

The MHA’s Border Push