The 14th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Working Group (JWG) on Border Management and Security was held on 20 and 21 August 2026 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The Indian delegation was led by Pausumi Basu, Joint Secretary (Border Management-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Nepali delegation was led by Ananda Kafle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal. Over two days, both sides reviewed the entire range of cooperation on border management and security and agreed to strengthen coordination along the 1,751 km open frontier.
What Was Discussed at the 14th Joint Working Group Meeting?
The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs of both countries. It was held at Hotel Taj in Dehradun on 20 and 21 August 2026. The two sides took stock of progress since the 13th JWG meeting held in Pokhara, Nepal, on 27 and 28 March 2025, and discussed pending issues that require regular follow up.
The agenda covered the core concerns that arise from an open and porous border. These included trans-border crime and criminal activities, infiltration and illegal movement, smuggling, drug trafficking from India into Nepal, illegal trade in arms and ammunition, circulation of fake Indian currency notes, and unauthorised trade. The delegations also discussed the entry and movement of third-country nationals and the need for regular information sharing between security agencies.
A major focus was on physical border infrastructure and its upkeep. Both sides reviewed repair and maintenance of boundary pillars, removal of encroachments in the no-man’s land, and construction and effective use of border infrastructure, especially Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), roads and railway links. They also exchanged views on strengthening institutional coordination and capacity building of security-related institutions and on disaster risk reduction and management along the frontier. At the end of the talks, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation and agreed that the 15th JWG meeting will be held in Nepal on a mutually convenient date.
How the India-Nepal Border Is Managed
India and Nepal share a 1,751 km long border that runs along five Indian states, Uttarakhand (263.7 km), Uttar Pradesh (599.3 km), Bihar (800.4 km), West Bengal (105.6 km) and Sikkim (99 km). On the Nepali side, it touches provinces from Sudurpaschim in the west to Koshi in the east. Unlike most international borders, this frontier is open. There is no fencing along the entire length, and the border is densely populated with close social and economic ties on both sides.
The Open Border and the 1950 Treaty
The free movement of people across this border is governed by the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950, signed on 31 July 1950 in Kathmandu. Articles 6 and 7 of the treaty give nationals of each country the right to move freely across the border and to live, own property, take part in trade and commerce and enjoy the same privileges in the territory of the other country. This means Indian and Nepali citizens do not need passports or visas to cross the border, and tens of thousands cross every day for work, education, pilgrimage and trade.
The treaty built on a much older boundary. The present alignment was largely drawn by the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816, signed after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814 to 1816) between the Gorkha Kingdom and the British East India Company. The Sugauli Treaty defined the Mahakali (Kali) River in the west as part of the boundary. Because the treaty did not attach a clear map or define the exact source of the Kali, differing interpretations of its origin have led to lingering differences over areas like Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand and Susta along the Gandak River in Bihar. These are treated by both governments as boundary issues to be settled through diplomatic dialogue and joint technical work.
Forces Guarding the Frontier
The open nature of the border makes it vulnerable to misuse by criminals, smugglers, traffickers and extremist groups. To guard it, India designated the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as the Border Guarding Force and Lead Intelligence Agency for the Indo-Nepal border in June 2001, following the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on National Security after the Kargil War of 1999 and the adoption of the one border, one force principle.
The SSB was first raised as the Special Service Bureau in March 1963 under the Cabinet Secretariat after the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Its early role was to build the resilience of border populations and to prepare them for stay-behind operations in case of invasion. In January 2001, its control was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and on 15 December 2003 it was renamed as Sashastra Seema Bal, keeping the same acronym SSB. It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Its headquarters is in New Delhi. In March 2004, it was also given charge of the 699 km Indo-Bhutan border. It mans a chain of Border Out Posts (BOPs), conducts area domination patrols and manned checkpoints called nakas, and coordinates with state police and customs.
On the Nepali side, the border is regulated by the Armed Police Force (APF) of Nepal along with Nepal Police. The SSB and APF often carry out joint patrols. The border districts also have a local coordination link. On the Indian side, District Magistrates and local SSB and customs officers meet regularly with Chief District Officers (CDOs), APF and police chiefs from Nepal.
Institutional Mechanisms for Border Cooperation
Border management between India and Nepal works through a set of layered mechanisms, from the top policy level to the district level.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) on Border Management is a Joint Secretary-level mechanism of the two Home Ministries. It meets alternately in India and Nepal to review operational issues such as boundary pillars, trans-border crime, border infrastructure, capacity building and disaster management. The Home Secretary-level talks provide higher policy direction. After a long gap since 2016, the two Home Secretaries, Govind Mohan of India and Gokarna Mani Duwadee of Nepal, met again in New Delhi on 22 July 2025 and reviewed the same set of issues while also endorsing the minutes of the 13th JWG.
At the ground level, the Border District Coordination Committee (BDCC) brings together District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police on the Indian side and Chief District Officers and police chiefs on the Nepali side. The BDCC handles day to day coordination, exchange of criminal records, control of smuggling and human trafficking and joint patrolling plans. For formal legal cooperation, the two countries have been working to finalise a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters and a revised Extradition Treaty to make it easier to investigate and hand over offenders.
For technical boundary work, two other bodies exist, the Boundary Working Group (BWG) and the Survey Officials Committee. These teams carry out strip mapping of the boundary using GPS and GIS, and prepare and sign joint maps. About 98 percent of the India-Nepal boundary has been demarcated through strip maps, while a few segments remain unresolved where rivers have shifted course or where cross-border occupation of no-man’s land has occurred. When the BWG does not meet regularly, repairs of boundary pillars are often taken up for discussion in the JWG.
Physical infrastructure is handled by the Border Management Division of the MHA. Under the Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme with an approved cost of ₹13,020 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26, projects include border roads, floodlighting, BOPs, helipads and technological solutions. To connect BOPs and improve mobility, the government approved 1,377 km of border roads along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar (564 km), Uttar Pradesh (640 km) and Uttarakhand (173 km) in November 2010. A key trade facilitation tool is the Integrated Check Post (ICP) system managed by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), a statutory body created under the LPAI Act, 2010 under the MHA. ICPs bring customs, immigration, quarantine and border guarding agencies under one roof. Along the Nepal border, fully operational ICPs include Raxaul in Bihar opposite Birgunj (operational since 3 June 2016, jointly inaugurated in April 2018), Jogbani in Bihar opposite Biratnagar (inaugurated 21 January 2020) and Rupaidiha in Uttar Pradesh opposite Nepalgunj (operational since 5 June 2023). Raxaul-Birgunj alone handles about 60 percent of Nepal’s global trade, and also links to the Sirsiya Inland Container Depot in Nepal and the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline.
| Mechanism | Level | Main Function |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Working Group on Border Management | Joint Secretary, MHA | Reviews boundary pillars, crime, ICPs, roads, railways, capacity building, disaster management |
| Home Secretary Level Talks | Home Secretaries | Policy guidance, approves JWG recommendations, discusses MLAT and Extradition Treaty |
| Border District Coordination Committee | District Magistrate and CDO | Local security coordination, information exchange, joint patrols |
| Boundary Working Group and Survey Officials Committee | Survey Departments | Demarcation, strip mapping, placement of boundary pillars |
| Land Ports Authority of India and ICPs | MHA, Department of Border Management | Integrated customs, immigration and trade facilitation at land ports |
Why This Meeting Matters Now
The Dehradun talks came at a time of renewed focus on frontier security. In the months before the JWG, officials on both sides flagged concerns about communal tensions and unrest in Nepal’s Tarai-Madhesh region, which directly borders Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Even where investigations found no strong evidence of organised support from across the border, such unrest increases the need for tighter watch on the movement of people, arms and funds across villages that sit on either side of the frontier.
The meeting also followed other high-level contacts that show how closely the security agenda is tied to broader ties. In March 2025, the 13th JWG in Pokhara had already reviewed boundary pillar maintenance and border infrastructure. In July 2025, the restarted Home Secretary talks finalised the text of the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement and pushed for an updated Extradition Treaty. In August 2026, just days before the Dehradun JWG, Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth visited Nepal from 16 to 19 August and met senior leaders to discuss defence cooperation. Taken together, these engagements indicate a drive to keep institutional channels active so that small local incidents do not grow into larger bilateral frictions.
For the border itself, the challenge remains the same. An open border supports livelihoods, family ties, pilgrimage and trade worth thousands of crores, with Nepal being India’s largest trade partner in the neighbourhood and India providing transit to the sea for landlocked Nepal. At the same time, the same openness can be used for smuggling of goods, gold and timber, circulation of counterfeit currency, human trafficking and the movement of third-country nationals without proper documents. Strengthening information sharing, keeping boundary pillars visible and intact, clearing encroachments in the no-man’s land and making ICPs, roads and rail links work smoothly are therefore seen as practical ways to let legitimate movement flow while blocking illegal activity.
The Way Forward
Both sides agreed to sustain regular engagement through the JWG and other channels and to implement decisions taken at lower levels. This includes more frequent BDCC meetings, better upkeep of boundary pillars between BWG sessions, closer coordination between SSB and APF for joint patrols, and full use of ICPs at Raxaul, Jogbani and Rupaidiha with additional ICPs planned at Sonauli-Bhairahawa and other points.
Progress on legal instruments will be key. Early conclusion of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the revised Extradition Treaty, regular review of their working, and upgraded capacity building for security institutions, with Indian assistance and training for Nepali agencies, can make investigations faster and more effective. In disaster management, sharing early warning data and coordinating response plans for floods and earthquakes along the shared rivers and hills will help both border populations.
The next test of this process will be the 15th JWG meeting to be hosted by Nepal. Regular meetings, clear timelines for pillar maintenance and infrastructure projects, and steady information exchange between district officers and central agencies can help ensure that the open border remains a bridge for people to people ties rather than a gap that criminals can use.
Key Takeaways
- The 14th India-Nepal Joint Working Group on Border Management and Security was held on 20 and 21 August 2026 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand at Hotel Taj.
- The Indian delegation was led by Pausumi Basu, Joint Secretary (Border Management-I), MHA, and the Nepali delegation by Ananda Kafle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal.
- The JWG reviewed trans-border crime, smuggling, drug trafficking, arms trade, fake currency, movement of third-country nationals, boundary pillars, encroachments in no-man’s land, and border infrastructure including ICPs, roads and railways.
- India and Nepal share a 1,751 km open border governed by the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950, with no visa requirement for citizens of either country.
- The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), raised as Special Service Bureau in March 1963 and designated as Border Guarding Force for the Indo-Nepal border in June 2001, guards the frontier with Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF).
- The 13th JWG was held in Pokhara on 27 and 28 March 2025, and the 15th JWG will be held in Nepal; the two sides also monitor progress on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the revised Extradition Treaty.
