As worries over Bangladesh’s overtures to China about possible investments in the area grew, India dramatically increased military security measures surrounding the Siliguri Corridor, also referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck.” Rafale fighter jets, BrahMos missiles, and sophisticated air defence systems are among the powerful military weapons that India has recently deployed to safeguard this strategically significant tiny strip of land that links the country’s northeastern states to the mainland.
The Indian Army has described the corridor as its strongest defence line rather than a vulnerability, refuting the conventional wisdom that the area is vulnerable to outside threats, especially as relations between China and Bangladesh continue to change in ways that could affect India’s regional security interests.
The Siliguri Corridor, also referred to as the “Chicken’s-Neck,” is a slender section of West Bengal that acts as the only land bridge connecting the northeastern Indian states with the rest of the nation. This strategically important corridor is only 20–22 km wide at its narrowest point. The corridor is a vital chokepoint for India’s territorial integrity and national security because of its unique geographic location, which is shared by China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The main urban hub in this corridor is Siliguri, which serves as a significant hub for travel between Bangladesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Bhutan, Nepal, and northeastern India.
The corridor was established after East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was created as a result of India’s 1947–1948 split. As a result of this historical history, this tiny waterway now connects the northeastern part of India to the mainland. Subsequently, the 1975 accession of Sikkim to India strengthened Indian authority over the western portion of the Chumbi Valley by adding another buffer to the north of the corridor. According to various interpretations, the corridor’s proportions vary; some estimates place its breadth between 17 and 60 miles and its length at about 200 km.
It has long been believed that India’s territorial defensive plan may be vulnerable due to the corridor’s limited topography. Its limited width and the fact that it is encircled by neighbouring countries have sparked worries about potential dangers to this crucial link. The northeastern states could be cut off from the rest of India if this corridor is disrupted, which would provide serious logistical, financial, and security issues for the nation. Recent military evaluations, however, have started to cast doubt on this view. According to some analysts, the corridor’s vulnerability may be exaggerated in light of India’s substantial military presence and tactical advantages in the area.
India is now more concerned than ever about the security of the Siliguri Corridor due to recent diplomatic developments. Amidst the changing relationship between China and Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand. The two leaders were spotted sitting together at a state dinner sponsored by the Thai Prime Minister, suggesting that Bangladesh requested a meeting between PM Modi and its Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus. This possible first face-to-face meeting since Yunus took office in August 2024 coincides with New Delhi’s mounting concerns about Bangladesh’s economic and diplomatic efforts to reach China.
Strategic worries have been aroused in New Delhi by Muhammad Yunus’s recent comments on Bangladesh’s growing involvement with China for possible investments and India’s northeast. Given China’s long-standing interest in creating economic and infrastructure corridors in the area, particularly through programs like the Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM), these developments are especially delicate. China had suggested that the BCIM be included in its Belt and Road Initiative, but India has always been wary of Chinese connectivity projects in its strategic neighbourhood.
The complicated regional forces at work in South Asia are reflected in the current state of affairs. The timing of Bangladesh’s interaction with China coincides with the rise in popularity of regional organisations such as BIMSTEC as venues for multilateral collaboration. Important chances for bilateral talks on delicate security issues are presented by the diplomatic exchanges at these events. Given the strategic ramifications for the Siliguri Corridor, which continues to be an essential artery linking the northeastern states to the Indian mainland, the Indian government has been keeping a careful eye on these developments.
India has strengthened the Siliguri Corridor by implementing extensive security measures in response to these geopolitical changes. The Trishakti Corps, which has its headquarters in Sukna, close to the corridor, has been established by the Indian Army as the main defence force in the area. Modern weapons and military equipment have been provided to this corps to guarantee optimal readiness for all possible threats. Along with current MiG aircraft, a squadron of Rafale fighter jets is being deployed at Hashimara Airbase, greatly boosting India’s air defence capabilities in the area.
The installation of a regiment of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in the corridor is a noteworthy component of India’s security improvement. Known for their accuracy and potency, these missiles are a tremendous deterrence to would-be attackers. In order to thwart potential airborne intrusions, the Indian military has also deployed cutting-edge surface-to-air missile systems, such as the highly developed S-400 missile system. The airspace surrounding the corridor is layered with protection from Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) and Akash air defence systems.
To maintain high levels of operational readiness, the Trishakti Corps often engages in combat exercises, like as live-fire training with T-90 tanks. These drills are intended to mimic different threat situations and guarantee that the armed forces are capable of efficiently handling any security issues that may arise in the area. The ‘Chicken’s Neck’ is India’s strongest military area, where forces from West Bengal, Sikkim, and the northeast can be quickly mobilised in response to any danger, the Indian Army Chief has stressed, rather than being a vulnerability.
A crucial backdrop for comprehending the present geopolitical conflicts is provided by the Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM). The BCIM was first envisioned as a comprehensive connectivity project that would connect China and India via air, sea, train, and road via Bangladesh and Myanmar. The ‘Kunming Initiative,’ a Track-II procedure that started discussions regarding this corridor in the early 1990s, was formally renamed the BCIM Forum for Regional Cooperation in 1999.
The 2,800-kilometer economic corridor would travel from Kolkata to Dhaka and Sylhet via Benapole/Petrapole on the India-Bangladesh border, before returning to India close to Silchar in Assam. It would then go to Imphal and carry on from there. Following discussions between then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and previous Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012, the project gathered steam when Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about it during the BRICS Summit in July 2014.
China has continuously argued that the BCIM Economic Corridor would raise the standard of living for people in these areas by facilitating the growth of numerous medium- and large cities as well as manufacturing clusters along its path. However, as analytical sources point out, China’s goals go beyond economic growth to include geostrategic ones. India has approached the BCIM cautiously, weighing possible economic benefits against security worries due to the initiative’s dual-purpose character.
China suggested incorporating the BCIM into its larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2015; India has continuously refused to participate because of security and sovereignty concerns. In a joint communiqué released by state leaders attending the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in May 2019, the BCIM was noticeably missing from a list of 35 corridors and projects, indicating a possible change in the initiative’s status or priority.
India’s strategic thinking is still influenced by the controversy over the Siliguri Corridor’s vulnerability. The ‘Chicken’s Neck’ has been over-emphasized in strategic debate, according to some analysts. A 2017 analysis suggested that Indian forces in the Doklam-Sikkim sector hold advantages in terms of heights, numbers, and logistics compared to their Chinese counterparts, making a breakthrough in this area highly unlikely. Even if Chinese forces were to attempt an incursion, they would need to traverse 100-130 kilometres of Indian territory on winding roads with Indian forces positioned all around, making them vulnerable to Indian long-range artillery, rockets, and air power.
India’s present fortification efforts show that the government still considers the corridor to be a vital security priority in spite of these rebuttals. The use of cutting-edge military hardware and the focus on multi-layered defences demonstrate a strategic mindset that puts readiness ahead of complacency. Given the changing dynamics between China and Bangladesh, which may have an effect on India’s strategic interests in the area, this position is especially pertinent.
The precarious power dynamics in the area are highlighted by the current circumstances. In addition to being a military action, India’s fortification of the Siliguri Corridor serves as a geopolitical message to its neighbours about its dedication to security and territorial integrity. Bangladesh is pursuing economic development prospects and maybe more strategic autonomy in regional affairs, which is reflected in its relationship with China. China’s desire to connect through programs like the BCIM is consistent with its overarching objective of increasing its power in South Asia.
The ‘Chicken’s Neck’ fortification by India in the context of Bangladesh-China engagement is a major strategic development in South Asian geopolitics. The Siliguri Corridor is crucial to India’s territorial integrity and national security, as evidenced by the extensive security measures put in place by the country, which include sophisticated military deployments, multi-layered defence systems, and frequent battle drills. Although there is ongoing discussion on the corridor’s true vulnerability, India’s proactive stance demonstrates a strategic calculus that puts readiness ahead of risk.
India’s security considerations in the region will continue to be shaped by the changing dynamics between China and Bangladesh, especially with regard to possible infrastructure and economic developments. Bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh continue to be essential for regional stability, even as regional bodies such as BIMSTEC offer venues for diplomatic interaction. The security environment surrounding the Siliguri Corridor and the larger South Asian region will be greatly impacted by the course of these partnerships in the future. India’s strategic stance indicates a well-rounded strategy that addresses security issues while preserving regional cooperation by combining strong military readiness with ongoing diplomatic engagement.
