Indian Army Explores New Base In Mizoram Amid Border Security Review

The Indian Army is examining the feasibility of establishing a fourth Army base in Mizoram as part of a broader review of defensive posture along India’s eastern frontier, government sources said.

The move follows the recent establishment of three new Army bases in an arc spanning West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam, aimed at securing the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, which connects the Northeast to the rest of India.

Why is the Army considering a new base in Mizoram?

According to sources, the proposed Army station in Mizoram is being examined as part of wider efforts to reinforce defensive preparedness along the India–Bangladesh border and adjoining regions. The assessment is linked to the Army’s ongoing review of force deployment in the Northeast.

As part of this process, Eastern Command General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lieutenant General R C Tiwari undertook a day-long visit to Thuampui near Aizawl to assess terrain and potential locations suitable for stationing an Army battalion.

Which formations are involved in the assessment?

Sources said the Army is considering the deployment of a battalion drawn from a brigade under the Dimapur-based 3 Corps. The visit was conducted by Lieutenant General R C Tiwari, accompanied by 3 Corps GOC Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar and 17 Mountain Strike Corps GOC Lieutenant General Yash Ahlawat.

During the visit, the senior commanders were briefed by officers from the Assam Rifles and the Border Security Force (BSF), in the presence of other Army officials.

Which border areas were reviewed during the visit?

The delegation visited two key border outposts along the India–Bangladesh border: Parva and Silsuri.

Silsuri is located in the West Phaileng block of Mamit district, while the BSF’s Parva border outpost lies in Lawngtlai district of southern Mizoram. Parva is situated close to the tri-junction of the India–Bangladesh and India–Myanmar borders, adding to its operational significance.

Following the field visit, the Eastern Command GOC is expected to hold consultations with the two Corps commanders and participate in a detailed presentation by Army and Assam Rifles officers after returning to Agartala.

What parallel measures is the BSF undertaking in the region?

In parallel with the Army’s review, the BSF has drawn up long-term plans to strengthen defensive infrastructure in sensitive areas along the India–Bangladesh border in Mizoram and southern Assam.

Ministry of Home Affairs sources said the BSF plans to construct inland defensive structures, including bunkers, ring bundhs, blast-proof shelters, and underground armouries, across three battalion command areas under the Silchar and Mizoram frontier. These projects have been prioritised based on operational sensitivity, threat perception, and vulnerability.

Over the next five years, around 45 such defensive structures are planned in each of the three battalion areas in the Cachar and Mizoram frontier.

What is the current status of border infrastructure in Mizoram?

There are currently 85 BSF border outposts along the India–Bangladesh border in the Mizoram sector. Officials said the objective is to transform these outposts into composite, future-ready operational hubs.

According to officials, 40 defensive structures have already been completed in Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts, while work on 19 additional structures has been sanctioned. It is proposed that at least 26 border outposts will be equipped with all four critical defensive components over the next five years.

The Army’s assessment in Mizoram and the BSF’s parallel infrastructure push form part of a broader security review across India’s eastern border regions, particularly in areas of strategic and operational sensitivity.