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Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Dr Mukul Sangma has sounded a note of caution over the geopolitical vulnerabilities confronting India’s North East, asserting that the region’s international boundaries with Bangladesh and Myanmar cannot be viewed through a narrow security prism. Against the backdrop of shifting political currents in neighbouring countries and evolving patterns of proxy conflicts across the globe, he underscored the need for heightened vigilance and seamless coordination between states and the Union government to safeguard national interests.
Addressing concerns over cross-border security and the strategic sensitivity of the region, Sangma pointed to what he described as the inherent fragility of India’s eastern frontiers. “Both Indo Bangla border or Indo Myanmar border, these borders are referred to as porus international borders. These borders are porus because enemy will not always not come through the front door. do you think they will only come through Indo-Park border? There are other borders, there are other way of mechanism or waging war against neighbours,” he said.
Drawing attention to official terminology, he maintained that the characterisation of these boundaries is not rhetorical but formally acknowledged. “Even before (formation of New Government in Bangladesh) the North eastern states bordering Bangladesh, the Indo Bangla border or Indo Myanmar border, these borders are referred to as porus international borders. In the official document only, this nomenclature is used the porus international border,” he stated.
Sangma elaborated that the vulnerability of such borders must be understood within the broader matrix of hostile engagements and non-conventional warfare. “These borders are porus, now, You see your enemy will not always not come through the front door,” he said, arguing that threats to national security are increasingly layered and indirect.
He cautioned against limiting security assessments to conventional entry points. “So when you have the hostile neighbours and you are always fighting against all the forces who represent their proxy war against our nation, therefore, do you think they will only come through Indo-Park border? There are other borders, there are other way of mechanism or waging war against neighbours,” he added.
Situating his remarks within a global context, Sangma referred to contemporary conflicts and historical precedents to reinforce his argument. “I mean, these are all available, history is available for us and even the present scenario it is happening across the globe, Whether it is in Middle East, whether it is elsewhere, you know, it has happened,” he observed.
Emphasising that national security concerns must be grounded in past experience as well as present realities, he said, “So therefore When you have reasons to believe that you have, enemies who definitely definitely the enemies of the nation.”
Calling for sustained alertness, Sangma stressed that vigilance cannot be episodic but must be institutionalised through coordinated governance. “So these are all based on what we have seen in the past and therefore how we must be really alert and vigilant and to protect the interest of the Nation. This whole Geopolitical angle and the responsibilities of the states to work in tandem with government of India, It is very important,” he said.
