Cross-border Infiltration – The Next Big Challenge

Why in News?

Cross-border infiltration has emerged as India's most pressing internal security threat, with demographic shifts, political exploitation and economic strains turning a regional concern into a national crisis demanding urgent action.

What were the important internal security threats to India?

• Fundamental threats – In the early 2000s, India’s primary internal security threats were
  • Terrorism and separatism in Kashmir
  • Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)
  • North-East insurgency
• Decline in insurgency – Though these issues persist, their intensity has declined considerably.
• Naxalism – Once active in 182 districts in 2009, has now shrunk to just 18 in 2025.
• Former PM Manmohan Singh had called it the “single biggest internal security threat” in 2006.
• According to the Home Ministry, it could be eliminated by March 2026.
• North-East insurgency – It has declined by nearly 90%.
• This progress is largely due to improved infrastructure, integration of alienated communities, and peace accords with insurgent groups.
• Terrorism in Kashmir – It has experienced a relative calm following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
• However, a complete resolution remains elusive, as Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI continue to fuel unrest in the region.
• Keeping the Kashmir issue alive is essential to their strategic interests and political survival.
• With these longstanding challenges somewhat under control, illegal infiltration has now surfaced as the most pressing internal security threat.

What the consequences are of cross border infiltration?

• Emerging national crisis – Infiltration is no longer a border-specific problem.
• Its effects are now deeply felt across the Indian heartland, creating far-reaching social, political, and economic consequences.
• What was once framed as a humanitarian issue has transformed into a national crisis.
• Social consequences – The influx from Bangladesh and Myanmar has altered the demographic makeup of states like Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, and other North-Eastern areas.
• Ethnic balances have been disrupted, causing friction over land, language, and identity.
• The Assam Movement’s legacy looms large, while debates on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) remain active and politically sensitive.
• There is a growing perception among locals that infiltrators benefit from welfare schemes and political appeasement.
• This belief has sparked ethnic nationalism and communal tensions. Radical groups are quick to exploit such sentiments, posing further threats to social cohesion.
• This issue is no longer limited to border regions.
• Migrants have reached deep into the mainland from Bihar to Punjab and Uttarakhand to Karnataka.
• Major cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Gurugram, and Pune are witnessing increasing numbers, putting pressure on urban services and housing.
• Political consequences – Most political parties have embraced vote-bank strategies, facilitating fake documents.
• They help infiltrators settle on government lands, especially along river beds and forest areas, and turning a blind eye to the consequences.
• Such actions compromise national security for short-term electoral gains and alienate local populations.
• This deepens mistrust between citizens and the state.
• If unaddressed, it could lead to unrest, especially in vulnerable regions where demographic pressures are mounting.
• Economic consequences – Illegal infiltration strains both employment and public services.
• Most undocumented migrants work in agriculture, construction, and domestic labour, flooding the market with cheap labour.
• This depresses wages and displaces local workers.
• Moreover, many infiltrators are involved in the informal or grey economy, engaging in cattle smuggling, narcotics trafficking, fake currency, and illicit trade.
• These activities not only weaken the formal economy but also empower organised crime syndicates, some with terrorist links.
• Public resources such as healthcare, education, and welfare are stretched further by the undocumented population.
• These burdens threaten to derail India’s vision of becoming a developed nation, “Vikshit Bharat” by 2047.

What are the impediments in monitoring?

• Vulnerable borders – India's borders are increasingly vulnerable due to evolving tactics by hostile actors.
• Along the India–Myanmar border, difficult terrain enables insurgent movement and illegal entry.
• Despite the best efforts of border forces, the vast and varied geography presents major enforcement challenges.
• Increased narco terrorism – In Punjab, narco-terrorism has gained ground, with drugs and arms being dropped by drones.
• Cyber radicalisation and sleeper agents disguised as labourers further complicate detection.
• Change in approach of terrorists – Recent arrests of Pakistani militants along the Bangladesh–Meghalaya border suggest a strategic shift by Pakistan’s ISI, which is now exploiting weaker points along the eastern frontier.
• In 2011, in Malda district, a head constable was killed by cattle traffickers.
• Large Illegal settlements – A local survey revealed that a 500-meter stretch was fully occupied by illegal Bangladeshi settlers, making security operations difficult and compromising local intelligence networks.
• Such realities prove that infiltration isn't just about border violations; it can weaken internal coordination, disrupt intelligence, and enable collusion with enemy states during crises.

Kautilya wrote in the Arthashastra Centuries ago: “In the territories lying on the borders, the conqueror should establish fortified towns populated with trustworthy people and soldiers.

Foreigners should not be allowed to settle in border territories.”

What lies ahead?

• The newly announced Demographic Security Mission is a timely and necessary move.
• But for real impact, it must adopt a zero-tolerance approach.
• Those involved in facilitating fake IDs and documents must face strict legal consequences.
• Enhanced border fencing, surveillance technologies, and citizen verification systems are vital.
• Illegal infiltration is not just a regional challenge; it is a fundamental test of India’s political will, policy resolve, and social cohesion.
• It calls for a unified national response that rises above short-term politics.
• If this issue remains unresolved, it could destabilise communities, threaten India’s internal peace, and obstruct its development trajectory.
• A day may come when unchecked infiltration poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic fabric and sovereignty.
• By then, any electoral advantages gained today will seem trivial.
• As Kautilya warned, a kingdom that neglects its borders invites disorder. It is time for India to act decisively to protect its future

Reference

India Today| Cross Border Infiltration