India's 'Smart Border' Promise: Secure Chicken's Neck, End Infiltration, Keep Neighbours Under Watch

| May 24, 2026, 08:00:00 AM | TOI.in
  • Share
India has finally launched one of its most ambitious border security missions yet — and it centres around the narrow Siliguri Corridor, better known as the Chicken’s Neck. This tiny strip of land connects eight northeastern states to mainland India. Lose it, and India’s northeast risks isolation. After years of political deadlock, New Delhi is now moving rapidly with a Smart Border project featuring drones, radars, sensors and fencing to stop infiltration from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Amit Shah’s latest announcement comes just as concerns grow over a possible China-Pakistan-Bangladesh strategic alignment near India’s eastern flank. From demographic fears and smuggling networks to military cooperation between Dhaka and Islamabad, Delhi believes the risks are growing fast. But can India secure its vulnerable eastern corridor while also balancing sensitive ties with Bangladesh? This report breaks down the security race unfolding around India’s most fragile strategic lifeline.

Top Viral Videos