The Government has decided to completely seal the International Border (IB) with Pakistan by physical/non-physical barriers by December, 2018. There is about 181.85 km stretch in which construction of physical barrier is not feasible due to geographic constraints like riverine, low-lying, creek, marshy etc. areas. In this stretch, advance technology solutions including cameras, sensors, radars, lasers, etc will be deployed. BSF is testing the available technologies through pilot projects in Jammu, Punjab and Gujarat. Announcing this during Regional Editors’ Conference in Chandigarh today, the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said that Border Security is a very sensitive issue and India is engaging all the neighbours except Pakistan diplomatically to ensure peace on the borders. He added that because of development work, transgression incidents at China border have also come down drastically. Shri Rajnath Singh categorized our borders as friendly, active and strategic borders.
Referring recent surgical operations Shri Rajnath Singh said that it was pre-emptive action against Pakistan and India does not have any ill will against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan has adopted terrorism as its state policy and harbouring terrorists. That is the reason it has been isolated not only in South Asia, but also in the world. He said India is ready to help Pakistan in taking action against terrorists in Pakistan, including Pak Occupied Kashmir. Pakistan should close down ‘factory of terrorism’. This will open vistas of development and help in ensuring peace in South Asia.Regarding incidents of insurgency in North East, the Home Minister said that the Government is continuing dialogue with all the groups and claim that such incidents have come down. Similarly, incidents of Left Wing Extremism have also come down drastically because of two-pronged approach of the Government- development alongwith a strict action by the security forces.The Home Minister said that after Mumbai attacks, Coastal security has been given very high priority. Third phase of coastal security plan very soon will be put before the cabinet for the approval. This will help in securing our vast coastal border lines.Declaring that the Union Government is committed to peace and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir, he expressed the hope that very soon normalcy will return in the state. Later, answering the media query Shri Rajnath said that the radicalization is not a major challenge in India as people have very sensible approach towards this issue.