Nepal And India Plan Smart Border Security With CCTV Cameras, Drones And Joint Patrols

Nepal and India have agreed to strengthen security along their 1,751-km open border through technology-driven surveillance, intelligence-sharing and coordinated operations to tackle cross-border crimes. The decision followed the conclusion of the 10th bilateral coordination meeting between their border security forces in Kathmandu on Friday (October 30).

The three-day meeting, which began on Wednesday, was led by Nepal's Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector General Narayan Dutta Paudel and India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Sanjay Singhal. Representatives from both countries' home and foreign ministries, Nepal Police, the National Investigation Department, the Department of Survey and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also participated.

A key outcome was the proposal to introduce smart border management systems to modernise traditional security mechanisms. Measures discussed included installing CCTV cameras along sensitive sections of the no-man's-land, deploying baggage scanners and walk-through metal detectors at major checkpoints and expanding drone surveillance within the respective territories of both countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen intelligence-sharing and coordinated patrolling to combat human trafficking, drug smuggling, counterfeit currency circulation, illegal trade and transnational criminal networks. They also decided to tighten document verification and security checks to prevent the unauthorised movement of third-country nationals through the open border.

The issue has featured in previous security discussions, with officials raising concerns about the movement of Chinese and Pakistani nationals through Nepal and Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals through border areas. The Kathmandu Post reported that Nepal operates 244 APF outposts along its Indian border, while India has more than 400 security posts.

The two countries also agreed to remove unauthorised cultivation, encroachments and illegal structures from the no-man's-land, known as Dasgaja, and improve the maintenance, repair and reconstruction of border pillars.

Cooperation will also address misinformation and social media misuse, which both sides identified as emerging challenges to security and social harmony. Discussions covered specialised training, technology exchanges and regular visits between the two security forces.

Disaster preparedness was another focus, with a proposed joint swift-water rescue exercise at the APF's Disaster Management Training School in Kurintar, Chitwan, to improve responses to floods, landslides and other emergencies.

Both sides also agreed to expand traveller assistance desks and organise cultural and sporting activities. The 11th coordination meeting will be held in India next year.