The indigenously-made technical gadget has been pressed into action at this front recently as part of the below-the-earth tunnel detection exercise carried out by the force to ensure no terrorist is able to sneak into Indian territory and conduct strikes in Jammu and Kashmir or any other location of the country. These structures have also been used to smuggle narcotics, arms and ammunition.

The BSF has unearthed at least five under-ground tunnels in the about 192 km of the Jammu front (of the India-Pakistan IB) in the last three years.

According to official data, two such cross-border tunnels were detected in 2020 and 2021 each, while one was found last year and all of them were detected in the Indreshwar Nagar sector of Jammu.

“The force has procured a smart technical tool to counter the menace of under-ground tunnels that have been reported regularly along the Jammu region of the India-Pakistan IB. More than one drone-mounted ground penetration radars have been deployed in the region to check these clandestine structures used by terrorists to infiltrate into India from Pakistan,” a senior BSF officer told.

Officials working on the ground said the radars being currently deployed have been developed by an Indian manufacturer and they work by emitting strong radio waves to check for the presence of tunnels under the ground and to map their stretch.

While the specific details of the radars cannot be disclosed, the new tools have been added to the BSF surveillance paraphernalia for assisting ground troops undertaking anti-tunnelling exercise.

Its efficacy is under study as of now, the officials said.

The radars are mounted on the drones in order to give them better access to such terrain along this front, which is difficult for the ground teams to reach, they said.

Usually the surveillance for hidden tunnels is undertaken in the range of about 400 metres from the border fence.

The anti-tunnelling surveillance teams of the BSF remotely control the drone when they are out to comb a specific area on the front and they backup the ‘flying radar’ with their traditional system of checking for tunnels with the help of hand-held deep search and mine detection tools, they said.

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The Deesa air base will be the fire wall between enemy aircraft taking off from Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Shahbaz F-16 airbase in Jacobabad in Pakistan with Gujarat’s more than a trillion dollar industrial complex in and around Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Vadodara as target to economically hit India in the worst-case scenario.

Indian Air Force fighter taking off from Phalodi air base in Rajasthan. Deesa air base will plug the air defence gap between Bhuj and Phalodi air bases.

Although the land for Deesa airbase was allotted an in-principle approval given to Indian Air Force (IAF) by the Vajpayee government way back in 2000, the project was put on a back burner by the UPA government for the next 14 years. Although the project was revived when Narendra Modi took over as PM, it was the 2017 massive floods in Banaskantha that really kick-started the project.

When PM Modi and then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked IAF to provide flood relief, the Air Headquarters then headed by Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa found it very difficult to provide a relief air bridge to the affected area due to bad weather and no nearby airfield as Deesa was still lying-in files. It was then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who got the airbase approved by the government along with the ?1,000 crore funding.

It is quite evident that with PM Modi getting the funds released for the airbase construction through now Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the IAF will have a new forward base in the next two years with air defence fighter aircraft in position.

While PM Modi said the Deesa airbase will provide faster offensive capability to the IAF in this sector, the new airfield will also plug a crucial tactical gap between forward air bases at Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat, and Phalodi in Rajasthan.

The Deesa air base will be the fire wall between enemy aircraft taking off from Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Shahbaz F-16 airbase in Jacobabad in Pakistan with Gujarat’s more than a trillion dollar industrial complex in and around Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Vadodara as target to economically hit India in the worst-case scenario. Deesa will also make Pakistani cities of Hyderabad, Karachi, and Sukkur vulnerable with its deep penetration strike aircraft.

Since Deesa is a forward airbase, the IAF has no intentions to deploy its frontline Rafale or Su-30 MKI fighters on this airfield. Instead, it will station air defence fighters like MiG-29 and Tejas so that enemy fighters are intercepted and their ability to target Gujarat’s industrial complex gets neutered.

The airbase can also be used to retaliate against Pakistan in case of a major terror strike in Gujarat or along the south-western sector apart from giving support to any land offensive in future.

With Deesa airbase expected to be operational in the next two years in 2024, the Pakistan air force is also expected to ramp up its air assets in the sector as Indian fighters can cross over the international border in mere two minutes at Mach 2.0 speed if the red flag goes up.

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The ministry of home affairs has told parliament about the project on different occasions. New projects have also been initiated from a particular fund for border infrastructure.

In 2020, the central government approved the construction of 32 India-China Border Roads (ICBR)-II, measuring 683.12 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 12,434.90 crore. Work has started on eight roads and land acquisition and other statutory clearances have been obtained for 18 other roads while work is on for 14.

Similarly, for the development of critical infrastructure in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, the government in 2020 approved the construction of 18 foot tracks (including requisite number of foot suspension bridges, log bridges and staging camps), measuring 598.27 km at an estimated cost of Rs 1,162.19 crore. Land acquisition and other statutory clearances are on.

INDO-CHINA BORDER

The government initiated a project under which 25 ICBR-I roads will be constructed. These roads will connect border areas from other parts of the state making the border more accessible. Similarly, construction of 32 ICBR-II roads are also on. The project is to build a total of 177 roads of 10,000 km along the China border. Similarly, a critical road on the Indo-China border is also being constructed.

The MHA has undertaken the construction of 25 ICBR-I roads measuring 751.58 km along the Indo-China border at an estimated cost of Rs 3,482.52 crore. Out of 751.58 km, formation of 721.02 km (95 per cent) and surfacing of 545.05 km (74 per cent) has been completed. As many as 18 roads measuring 475.29 km have been completed and are operational. Work on seven roads is on.

A standalone project for roads is underway with an upgrade for 32 helipads in Ladakh. The construction of 18 foot tracks in Arunachal Pradesh are on the list of infrastructure projects of the government.

Another project is that of 47 new ITBP border outposts (BOPs) and 12 staging camps, which will boost ITBP that guards the Indo-China border.

INDO-PAKISTAN BORDER

The most important border due to infiltration and terrorism, the government has planned massive development work at the Indo-Pak border. The government plans to increase fencing and road works in the next two years.

The MHA is also monitoring the work of installing flood lights so that troops can keep an eye on suspicious movement at night. A large area has already been covered.

Another important development project is construction of lateral and axial roads in Punjab and Rajasthan. The home ministry is also involved in deployment of technological solutions like anti-drone technology, thermal imaging, movement sensors among others.

The MHA is also supervising the work of border outposts to keep strict vigil on the Indo-Pak border. The government is constructing marine infrastructure in Gujarat so that smugglers can be traced and intercepted by the forces.

INDO-NEPAL AND INDO-BHUTAN BORDER

The government is constructing a 1,377-km road network along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Apart from this, development of infrastructure and land acquisition for SSB BOPs are also on. The government is also installing land ports for smooth flow of supplies and easy clearance at these borders, and both countries are in touch with India.

INDO-MYANMAR BORDER

One of the important borders, it will have a company operating base (COB) of Assam Rifles soon. The MHA is in the process of construction close to the Myanmar border. Similarly, the work is also on for the construction of fence and road along the Indo-Myanmar border.

INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER

In the last few years, the government has expedited work at the Indo-Bangladesh border due to illegal movement. The MHA is supervising various developmental work, which includes fencing and roadworks, construction of Indo-Bangladesh road (Phase II) and bridges from BOP Simna to BOP Harinakhola in Tripura.

The government is also inducting technology solutions to monitor the border apart from construction of BOPs. Just like the Indo-Pak border, the Modi-led government has planned to stall flood lights and watch towers on this border, apart from improving existing infrastructure.

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