Nepal tightens border security amid India-Pakistan tensions

KATHMANDU: Following the escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan since Tuesday night, Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) has stepped up security measures along its southern border to prevent possible illegal infiltration.

The current spike in tensions comes after India launched targeted strikes on nine alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

These actions have further strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, especially in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national.

In response to India’s latest offensive, Pakistan reported 26 fatalities and 46 injuries. India, on the other hand, stated that 10 of its citizens were killed and 32 wounded due to cross-border attacks from the Pakistani side.

With the rising conflict across the border, Nepal has taken precautionary steps to secure its frontier and prevent any unlawful entry.

The APF is now on high alert across key border points.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police and APF spokesperson Shailendra Thapa, joint patrolling and information-sharing initiatives with India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been intensified.

“Twenty-four-hour patrols are being conducted from one Border Outpost (BOP) to another,” said DSP Thapa. “We have received special instructions from the headquarters to reinforce surveillance and control unauthorized movement across the border.”

Thapa further added that all APF battalions along the border have formulated and implemented targeted security plans.

Identity checks and documentation of individuals crossing the border are ongoing, and surveillance has been tightened at key points identified as vulnerable to infiltration.

Coordination with the Nepal Police, National Investigation Department, local representatives, and the general public is also being utilized to enhance information flow and monitor cross-border movement.

Additionally, security vigilance has been increased in urban areas deemed to be of strategic importance.