ONE BORDER ONE FORCE – ALL BORDERS UNDER MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

ONE BORDER ONE FORCE – ALL BORDERS UNDER MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

On 24 Sep 2019, I wrote 31 tweet thread with hashtag #NoLogicAssamRiflesMerger  which extensively covered ONE BORDER ONE FORCE for India. Tweets were tagged to PMO, MHA, MoD & AHQ. The recommendations at the end sum it in all.

The last tweet summed up the thread. It said:

“ITS ONE INDIA.

ITS MY INDIA.

ITS OUR INDIA.

ITS “OUR” SECURITY.

JAI HIND.”

The FIRST TWEET https://twitter.com/colsanjaypande/status/1176743686467489793?s=21

The THIRTY FIRST TWEET https://twitter.com/ColSanjayPande/status/1176743686467489793?s=20

The thread in form of article is reproduced.

On Suggestion of Merging Assam Rifles with CAPFs under Ministry of Home Affairs

That’s how you destroy one of the finest forces of India!

• Control without leading from front.
• We deserve destruction. We do not require enemies. Our ego is sufficient.
• ITBP needs to be merged with Assam Rifles and 100% control passed to MoD. THAT IS ONLY IF INDIA MATTERS.

ASSAM RIFLES

Assam Rifles is 184 years old. Merging a 184-yr. old Force which is comb hardened, CI/CT trained & has laudable achievements, with a Force which is only 57 yrs. of age (ITBP) needs to be debated by professional military men who LEAD forces personally since their commissioning as officers. ITBP is Police Force, Assam Rifles is PMF which is the soul of NE. Would it be wise to kill the soul of NE at a time when the Govt is Acting East and Assam Rifles is playing a stellar role in furthering the Govt’s vision? Both forces are governed by separate Acts. Whose Act will prevail? Comd & Cont structure & functional ethos of both Forces is at total variance. Will this step of merger not be detrimental to the National Interest & compromising national security?

Mating of two different organisational entities, apparently, will be an ideal recipe to spoil the palate of three Good Forces i.e. IA, AR & ITBP. Who takes these decisions? What is their capability. Don’t destroy India. We have commenced the destruction by such mindless act. Tribune article says, “……They said reason for doing so was to ensure ITBP got better operational manoeuvrability by rotating personnel from difficult Himalayan posting to Myanmar border plains.” THIS is Indian intellect!!!! Brain Dead. No disrespect. Facts. ITBP has not fired a single shot in Ladakh, Harsil, Sikkim & Arunachal & want to come to NE “from difficult Himalayan posting to Myanmar border plains”. NE needs 24×7 alertness & comb readiness. Myanmar Border is volatile.

AR is under administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) while it is operationally under Ministry of Defence (MoD). Dual command. While MHA has no idea of operations, it holds the purse strings and administrative control. AR traces back its origin to 1835 when it was raised by the British to safeguard its commercial interests in foothills of Assam from marauding tribals inhabiting the hills around. Since then Assam Rifles has seen two World Wars, 1962 war, saving Mizoram in 1966, relief of Indian Army in 1971, IPKF in Sri Lanka, CI ops in J & K, manning of LAC with China during Kargil War and more. Assam Rifles has been deployed in United Nations deployment too. This is result of rich ethos, traditions and practices followed by the Assam Rifles. AR relieves regular Army from the East, in case of conflict sit with Pak, thereby enhancing our offensive capabilities. AR provides balance to the Army in case of a two-front war, while simultaneously dealing with insurgency.

If AR is made into a Police Force, equivalent of 15 Brigades of Army are reduced overnight. Army now will remove 15 Brigades from active operations to fill void. The difference between guarding ‘Homeland’ and ‘Nation’ is not easily understood.

• Leadership in Assam Rifles-80% by Indian Army Officers from Captains to Director General level.
• Organization perfectly in ‘sync’ with the Army permitting inter-operability.
• Army provides it specialist intelligence units, aviation assets, medical facilities including Army doctors, engineering support and specialised vehicles and equipment for protection of AR troops from IED threats.
• Very little is known about the threat, challenges and difficulties of counter insurgency operations in the North East and guarding of the over 1600 km of Indo-Myanmar Border. Indian insurgent groups continue to operate from their camps in Myanmar.
• It is impossible to segregate border guarding and counter insurgency roles for any force operating along the Indo Myanmar Border.
• Traditional guarding of borders by BSF or ITBP in the form of BOPs and Nakas is not practical in the NE.
• Difficult terrain, jungle covered mountains with negligible road connectivity on Myanmar border presents unimaginable challenges.
• Company Operating Base and Temporary Operating Base concept followed by Army and AR provides dynamism in operations against armed & trained insurgents. It’s perfect sync between Army & Assam Rifles.
• ITBP operates along a peaceful border & ITBP has no experience in Counter Insurgency operations. It’s not ‘peaceful’ as projected.

A notification of ‘merger’ does not give competency to ‘take over Operational Role’ by default. Assam Rifles has following role/tasks:

• Conduct counter insurgency operations in the North East and other areas under Army.
• Ensure security of the India-China and Indo-Myanmar borders.
• During war, AR undertakes rear area security in the allotted area.
• Intervention force of the Central Government in internal security situations, under the control of Army.

Assam Rifles Under Ministry of Defence

There is thus no ambiguity that AR needs to be ‘in tune’ with the Army which necessitates operational control of the MoD. The only change recommended is that both Operational and Administrative control should be given to Army, thus MoD. Stop this unhealthy Tug-of-War.

COAST GUARD is under complete Operational and Administrative control of Navy-MoD.

Recommendations

Giving recommendations that I see will benefit INDIA.

• Review of Govt’s policy of ‘One Border one Force’ is necessary. A seven-decade old policy needs to be converted to ALL BORDERS UNDER MoD.
• One Nation One Border One Ministry. Indian National borders should be guarded by Ministry of Defence.
• One Land One Ministry- Security of hinterland be ensured by Min of Home Affairs.
• Assam Rifles complete Operational and Administrative control under MoD-Army.
• Status quo on Coast Guard (under Navy-MoD).
• Completely bring BSF, SSB and ITBP under complete Operational & Administrative control of Army-MoD.
• CRPF, NSG & CISF under Operational and Administrative control of Min of Home Affairs.
• Raise/maintain NEW forces directly under Cab Sec/CCS/PMO.
• Create dedicated network for MoD Forces and MHA Forces. Unite India.
• Abolish Civil Service exam for IPS and create only cadre officers OR let 100% officers pass one exam and train from one academy.
• Remove IPS VS Cadre Officer clashes most of which are decided in High Courts. Only way out is stop ‘Colonial Practices’.

My appeal to all strategists, writers, journalists, veterans and retired bureaucrats- Come out of wells and forgetting turf wars debate and share your views whatever they may be.

ITS ONE INDIA.

ITS MY INDIA.

ITS OUR INDIA.

ITS “OUR” SECURITY.

Col Sanjay Pande

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