The 10th Nepal-India coordination meeting between the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal and India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) concluded in Kathmandu on Friday, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation at the strategic, operational and field levels and to intensify joint efforts against illegal activities and cross-border crime. The three-day meeting, which began on Kartik 11, was led by APF Inspector General Narayan Datt Poudel on the Nepali side and SSB Director General Sanjay Singhal on the Indian side, as reported by Rato Pati and Khabarhub.

The latest round of talks, held in the Nepali capital, marked the tenth time that the two border-guarding forces have come together under this bilateral mechanism to take stock of their working relationship. At the centre of the agenda was a review of the progress made on the decisions of the ninth coordination meeting, along with an exchange of views on how the two forces can respond more quickly and more effectively to the security challenges that arise along the frontier they share.

Three Days of Talks in Kathmandu

The meeting opened in Kathmandu on Kartik 11 and continued for three days, bringing the senior-most leadership of the two forces to the same table. Inspector General Poudel headed the APF Nepal delegation, while Director General Singhal led the SSB side. The presence of the two force chiefs at the talks reflected the importance both institutions attach to the coordination mechanism.

Over the three days, the delegations reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken at the previous, ninth round of the coordination meeting. Assessing the follow-up on earlier understandings is a central purpose of the exercise, allowing both forces to determine which measures have been put into practice, which require further attention, and where new steps are needed to keep the partnership moving forward.

The concluding session on Friday wrapped up the Kathmandu round with a shared commitment to carry the bilateral cooperation ahead. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation across three distinct tiers: strategic, operational and field. This formulation covers engagement between the top leadership of the two forces, coordination at the operational level, and day-to-day interaction between personnel deployed along the border.

Commitment to Curb Cross-Border Crime

A key outcome of the meeting was a mutual commitment to curb illegal activities and cross-border crime. To that end, the two sides agreed to make the exchange of information between them faster, so that developments on one side of the frontier can be communicated to the other promptly and acted upon without delay.

Timely information sharing is widely regarded as a cornerstone of effective border management, particularly between two forces that are responsible for policing adjoining stretches of the same frontier. By committing to quicker communication, the APF and the SSB have signalled their intent to work in a more coordinated manner against activities that cross the border.

The main outcomes of the 10th coordination meeting, as reported, can be summed up as follows:

  • Review of progress on the decisions of the ninth coordination meeting
  • Agreement to strengthen cooperation at the strategic, operational and field levels
  • A joint commitment to curb illegal activities and cross-border crime
  • Faster exchange of information between the two forces
  • Greater use of technology in border management

Technology Takes on a Bigger Role in Border Security

Alongside the emphasis on quicker communication, the two sides also agreed to increase the use of technology in border security, as reported by Nepal Press. The commitment to greater use of technology in border management featured prominently in the outcomes of the three-day discussions.

While the reports do not detail the specific systems or tools to be introduced, the agreement points to a growing recognition on both sides that modern, technology-supported methods are needed to monitor the frontier and share information between the two forces. For the personnel deployed along the border, the understanding is expected to translate into stronger technical support for their day-to-day work.

A Longstanding Bilateral Mechanism

The APF and the SSB are the principal forces responsible for border security on the Nepali and Indian sides of the frontier respectively. The coordination meeting between them has now been convened ten times, making it one of the established institutional channels through which the two countries address border-related security concerns at the level of the forces themselves.

Because the Nepal-India border is open and used intensively by people on both sides, close and continuous coordination between the two forces is considered essential for maintaining security while allowing the legitimate movement of people to continue. Mechanisms such as this coordination meeting are designed to ensure that the APF and the SSB operate in concert rather than in isolation, aligning their priorities through regular, face-to-face engagement between their leaderships.

With the Kathmandu round concluded, attention will now turn to how the commitments made at the meeting are implemented on the ground. The agreements on faster information exchange, deeper cooperation at all three levels and the expanded use of technology are expected to guide the working relationship between the two forces in the period ahead, as they continue their shared task of keeping the frontier peaceful and orderly.