Securing the Siliguri Corridor or Chickens Neck in West Bengal

  

What is Happening

Where is it

Since the past few weeks, a lot has been said about the Doklam plateau standoff between India and China. Bhutan's PM recently made a statement in Germany that China is a party to the Doklam Plateau. Doklam plateau where Indian and Chinese forces had a major skirmish in 2017 that lasted for over 2 months; is a critical land mass that faces the critical tri-junction of Bhutan, India, and China-occupied Tibet. It is being said Bhutan may have agreed to hand over the Doklam Plateau in return for China giving up a claim in the area north of Bhutan. So why is the plateau so important to India when it is actually a territory controlled, and administered by Bhutan. Many things are being said about the standoff that happened in 2017 with most placing the area right at end of the funnel (above pic) when in reality Doklam plateau is on the right, a little above the hump.

Why China wants it

China wants to control the Doklam plateau as controlling the flat area will allow its long-range rocket artillery units to move around swiftly and counter the imposing presence & complete dominance of the Indian Army in the west and south and Bhutan in the east. It will also allow China PLA to target the Siliguri corridor, a scary proposition for India as that will potentially cut off the entire North East India from the Rest of India.

What is India doing

Though previously India had stood silently supporting Bhutan in border disputes between Bhutan and China; it is practically the first time that India is openly supporting Bhutan even though officially it’s silent since the territory in question is Bhutanese. As the situation has developed over the years India has placed Brahmos missiles, Akash SAMs, in ready mode. All this is in addition to military bases in the Siliguri corridor itself.

What if China Attacks Siliguri Corridor

China wants to control the Doklam plateau as it allows its long-range rocket artillery to choke up the Chicken’s Neck or Siliguri Corridor and if ever the situation leads seriously to war,  it will actually be over in the first few hours. That is why India wants to stop China tooth and nail from controlling the Doklam plateau. As such keeping it in mind the scenarios have also been war-gamed for correct responses.

What Can Be Done on East & West of Siliguri Corridor or Chickens Neck

Even though there is enough backup for Indian Army mountain divisions spread out in the Siliguri Corridor or Chickens Neck with apt backup from Indian Air Force with airbases equipped with Rafales, and Su 30 MKI on both sides of the corridor, a lot more can be done.

Negotiate Land Deal with Bangladesh

Now that territorial disputes with Bangladesh have been finished after the exchange of Chitmahal or enclaves; India can seriously think of negotiating with Bangladesh to buy patches of land in the Rangpur division more specifically Rangpur & Dinajpur district. If the deal is done It will help widen the Siliguri Corridor or Chickens Neck on the eastern flank. Not just that may help control the illegal arms trade, drug trafficking, and fake currency racket that comes into Murshidabad, Malda, and North/South Dinajpur districts of India.

Negotiate Land Deal with Nepal

India needs to seriously think of negotiating with Nepal to buy patches of land more specifically Province 1. The reason is simple it will not only help widen the Siliguri Corridor or Chickens Neck on the western flank. Still, it will allow the state of Sikkim, an alternate land route to connect to the rest of India via the state of Bihar, completely bypassing the Darjeeling hill areas. As is known Sikkim is at mercy of connectivity from Darjeeling, and any kind of agitation by the Gorkha populace of the Darjeeling hill tract; cuts it off from the rest of India. It is bcoz of this helplessness, Sikkim CM is reportedly being forced to support the creation of Gorkha state in Darjeeling so as to end the misery his state has been subjected to for the past few decades. As it is known previous Sikkim CM PK Chamling was planning to file a case of Rs 60000 crore in compensation, from West Bengal due to economic loss suffered by his state.

Some may argue that Nepal is a Gorkha area after all, but no. While Gorkhas dominate the mountainous western & central Nepal, provinces 1 & 2 of Nepal are Terai plains, an area dominated by Madeshi people of Nepal who are ethnically Indians; and may be more than happy to be part of India. So a lot of options are available, it's up to India which one of them is suitable.