India has begun reshaping the security architecture of its eastern frontier, turning the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor into a heavily fortified military zone as Bangladesh’s political realignment moves closer to China and Pakistan. The narrow 22-kilometre passage — the only land link between mainland India and the northeast — has historically been the country’s most fragile strategic chokepoint. New Delhi is now working to ensure it can never be severed.
Three major military installations form the backbone of this new posture: the Lachit Borphukan Military Station near Dhubri in Assam, a forward base in Kishanganj in Bihar, and another in Chopra in West Bengal. These are not conventional cantonments; each hosts rapid-reaction units, intelligence assets, logistics hubs, and Para Special Forces capable of instant mobilisation. Together, they establish overlapping defensive coverage of the corridor and enable a swift strike capability across the border if required.
The developments come amid sweeping geopolitical shifts in Dhaka. After the exit of Sheikh Hasina’s pro-India government, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus has steered Bangladesh’s foreign policy towards Chinese and Pakistani security cooperation. Reports of Dhaka negotiating the acquisition of $2.2 billion worth of Chinese J-10C fighter jets, joint drone production with China, and an offer from Pakistan to supply JF-17 Block III aircraft have intensified Indian concerns about military encirclement.
For New Delhi, the prospect of an adversary-aligned Bangladesh sitting astride its most sensitive land corridor is a worst-case scenario. The new forward bases significantly reduce that risk. The Chopra installation, situated less than one kilometre from Bangladeshi territory, allows persistent surveillance and real-time intelligence gathering. Combined with the deployment of Rafale fighters, BrahMos cruise missiles and integrated air-defence systems, India has shifted from a model of reactive defence to one of assured dominance.
The message this posture conveys is unmistakable: while diplomatic ties with Dhaka remain formally intact, India will not allow external powers to convert Bangladesh into a strategic pressure point. The Siliguri Corridor — once India’s soft underbelly — is being turned into a hardened military artery, protected by layered firepower and rapid-response forces.
Through these steps, New Delhi has decisively signalled that safeguarding the northeast is non-negotiable and that any hostile realignment along its eastern border will be met not with vulnerability, but with overwhelming strength.
