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Abstract

Why is the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) relatively invisible compared to the Indian Army and the Ministry of External Affairs in India's management of the boundary with China? Whether in terms of its role or the efficacy of this role along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the ITBP receives considerably less attention in the press or from analysts than the other two organizations. This has been the case even in the past year of high tensions with China on the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Indeed, the ITBP has largely been ignored in the general analysis of Indian security institutions. This presentation is an attempt to address this gap using the context of India's China policymaking. It begins with an overview of the structure and general conditions of work in the ITBP before highlighting specific factors that limit its work and its influence, including mission creep and inter-agency competition. In the process, the presentation will draw some lessons not just about India's approach to China but about Indian policymaking in general.

About the Speaker

Jabin T. Jacob is Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies at the Shiv Nadar University and Adjunct Research Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation. He was formerly Fellow and Assistant Director at the ICS. He is a PhD supervisor at the Naval War College, Goa and was co-editor, most recently, of the volume titled, China's Search for 'National Rejuvenation': Domestic and Foreign Policies under Xi Jinping. Some of his work can be found at https://indiandchina.com/

About the Chair

Lt. Gen. DS Hooda (Retd.) PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM** was commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles on 15 Dec 1976. During his career spanning forty years he has gained vast experience of counterinsurgency, both in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East Region. He commanded an Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir, a Division in Manipur and the 16 Corps at Nagrota. Lt Gen DS Hooda took over the command of the Northern Army on 01 Jun 2014 and retired from there in December 2016. He was responsible for handling the disputed and troubled borders with Pakistan and China as well as counterinsurgency operations in J&K. He is co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, New Delhi and a Senior Fellow at the Delhi Policy Group.