India and Nepal will hold their annual border talks in Kathmandu later this week, focusing on issues like preventing cross-border crimes and improving the sharing of intelligence. The Indian delegation, led by Amrit Mohan Prasad, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), will meet with their Nepalese counterparts, the Armed Police Force (APF), from November 16 to 18.
This year’s meeting will mark the eighth edition of the annual discussions, which have been taking place since 2012. The talks alternate between India and Nepal each year. The primary goal is to address the challenges posed by the unfenced 1,751 km long India-Nepal border.
The SSB is responsible for guarding this border, which stretches across several Indian states including Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. During the talks, both sides are expected to discuss strategies to combat illegal cross-border activities, including smuggling, trafficking, and other crimes. They will also focus on ways to share critical intelligence more effectively.
The meeting will be attended by officials from India’s ministries of external affairs and home, and at the end of the talks, a joint statement will be signed. The Nepalese delegation will be led by Inspector General Raju Aryal of the APF.
Due to its open and unfenced nature, the India-Nepal border is often used by anti-national elements, including terrorists and criminals, to cross between the two countries. Over the years, several terrorists, fraudsters, and criminals have been apprehended in the region.
The SSB Director General is also expected to meet with Nepal's Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and other senior officials during the visit.