India and China stand out as two of the world’s most ancient, continuous, living geo-civilizational spaces, rightfully claiming historic bilateral association of over two millennia; an association which had been founded primarily upon profound links of Buddhist interconnectivity, and regular cultural and trade exchanges. However, with India and China’s evolution into modern-day nation states, and a contemporaneous tectonic shift in international political reconfigured tendencies, these former day ‘pre-colonial Buddhist brothers’, soon became ‘post-colonial political neighbours’, with much of their Buddhist affinity and strong religious sentiments having gotten dissolved into the dust and dirt of border clashes and skirmishes. Attempts by both countries in recent times to project an otherwise mutually respectful, good neighbourly bilateral relation, have often times been outlined by covert elements of trust deficit and implicit signs of mutual suspicion, wherein issues of serious security concern with regard to China, have been looming over for long within the physical as well as psychological space of India. It therefore becomes imperative for India to identify the crucial possible security challenges posed by the Chinese side in the short and long run, to enable India to prepare and counter them better, with greater efficacy. Key Words: Buddhist affinity, geo-civilizational space, border clashes, trust deficit

The porous and unregulated borders of northeast India serve as the main facilitator of all the problems faced in northeast India, like insurgency, illegal immigration, and drug issues. This article aims to find the correlation between border management efforts and the security threats that are faced in the border areas. Both qualitative and quantitative data are collected and observed thoroughly by the researcher. It has been found that there is a general negative correlation between border management efforts and security threats faced in the border area. Keywords: Border management, North-east India, Insurgency, Illegal migration, Drug trafficking

Geopolitics examines how geographic features, resources and socio-economic aspects influence regional politics. Geopolitics also includes the study of real-world decisions made by politicians, their political alliances, and other leaders in various geographic settings.1 The recent reestablishment of political order in Bangladesh marks a pivotal shift in South Asia’s geopolitical terrain. The study aims to analyse the geopolitical situations between India, Bangladesh, and neighbouring countries. This research endeavours to elucidate the consequences of Bangladesh’s political instability on India, focusing specifically on its northeastern states while also scrutinising the geopolitical challenges that India faces. It also suggests how India should change its foreign policy in response. The study reveals that India and Bangladesh have deep historical, linguistic and cultural ties. They have cooperated for regional and sub- regional development. The research underscores the necessity for India to implement a comprehensive strategy in response to the evolving geopolitical dynamics in Bangladesh. Drawing from secondary data sources, this study offers valuable insights into geopolitical matters, catering to the interests of researchers, geographers, and policymakers. Keywords: Geopolitics, resources, regional politics, Political Alliances, foreign policy

Throughout history, the maritime domain has been a crucial space in establishing new and emerging powers shaping regional dynamics and the larger security architecture. The great power competition today is no different. The emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a new geographic space—bringing together the Indian and the Pacific Oceans—represents the new strategic reality of the twenty-first century. The Indo- Pacific, therefore, is a new domain in India’s foreign policy engagements, representing a shift in New Delhi’s strategic and security environment, expanding its threats solely from its continental borders to its maritime space. India’s active involvement in the Indo-Pacific region reflects its recognition of its increasing significance in global affairs. The region has witnessed significant geopolitical shifts over the years, characterised by changes in power structures, economic interdependence, and emerging security challenges. In response to this dynamic environment, India has recalibrated its approach to regional security. As New Delhi’s regional influence grows, its approach towards bilateral and multilateral security mechanisms is a crucial barometer of its strategic priorities. India has established its evolving role in shaping the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific through its diplomatic manoeuvring and multilateral engagements. This article argues that as a rising power with its own ambitions to carve out a strategic space, India’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific seeks to retain a free, open and inclusive regional order. This article delves into India’s security position with the escalation of Chinese involvement, along with threats emerging from Pakistan and a destabilised Bangladesh, and examines to what degree bilateral and multilateral arrangements have helped India solve its security concerns in this region. In the short and medium terms, this means forming soft-balancing coalitions and limited hardbalancing relationships. The article will identify India’s Indo-Pacific approach and its direct impact on New Delhi’s security environment. This paper analysis India’s role in a stable Indo-Pacific by addressing maritime security concerns. It has three objectives: to understand how the region fits into India’s foreign policy, to identify the traditional and non-traditional security concerns prevailing in the region, and to analyse how India deals with these concerns. The author argues that India’s quest to leverage its geostrategic location to emerge as an Indo-Pacific actor faces multiple challenges, which create a clear divide between the country’s political rhetoric and action on the ground. The author critically examines these contradictions to better situate India’s security role in an increasingly fluid Indo-Pacific region. The article uses the conceptual framework of Role Theory to map the changes in India’s security role. Along with that, this article seeks to answer the question of what role India could play in the region to incentivise the regional security dynamics. Key words: India, Maritime Security Concerns, Indo-Pacific

Every country in the world is facing the menace of terrorism. Several strategies are being made to counter terrorism in general but there are very few strategies to counter urban terrorism. Terrorism in urban areas is different from terrorism in general due to several reasons. Urban areas are those places where people feel safer than rural areas because it is considered that urban areas are well-secured, all the prominent figures of the nation prefer to live in urban centers. So, the common citizen also feels safe in cities. But when some terrorist incidents happen in cities then it reduces the sense of safety among people. Apart from safety issues, the economic growth of a nation is also hindered because all the major financial and commercial activities are carried out in urban areas. Urban areas are considered cosmopolitan centres, but unfortunately, due to various reasons, several sections of society are lagging behind in urban areas; therefore, they feel marginalised and become soft targets for terrorist recruitment. Countering terrorism in urban areas is so more difficult because security agencies are often trained to work in war-like environments. Most of the security forces of the world are not familiar with the urban environment. Targeting terrorists among citizens is a difficult task. This paper is an attempt to understand this new phenomenon of urban terrorism and mechanism to counter it. Keywords: Terrorism, Urban settlement, Slum, Counterterrorism, Economic growth