India has significantly strengthened the security of the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, long known as the country's "Chicken's Neck," through new military deployments, advanced air defence systems and infrastructure upgrades. The developments come as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested its Kusha air defence missile system, while neighbouring Pakistan faces growing political and security challenges in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan.

The latest military and strategic developments underline India's focus on enhancing border security amid evolving regional security dynamics.

Siliguri Corridor Gets Stronger Military Shield

The Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch of land in West Bengal that connects India's northeastern states with the rest of the country, has long been regarded as one of India's most sensitive strategic zones.

At its narrowest point, the corridor measures only about 22 kilometres and is surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China's Chumbi Valley.

To reinforce the region, the Indian Army has established three new military stations:

• Lachit Borphukan Military Station (Assam): Strengthens logistics for the eastern theatre.
• Kishanganj Military Station (Bihar): Monitors the western approach towards the corridor.
• Chopra Military Station (West Bengal): Enhances surveillance close to the international border.

These facilities complement existing Border Security Force (BSF) deployments, significantly improving monitoring and operational readiness.

Army officials are increasingly referring to the corridor as the "Elephant's Trunk," reflecting greater confidence in its strengthened defences.

Advanced Weapons Deployed Near Chumbi Valley

India has also enhanced military capabilities in the region by deploying advanced assets under the Trishakti Corps.

These include:

• S-400 air defence missile systems
• BrahMos supersonic cruise missile regiments
• Rafale fighter aircraft operating from Hasimara Air Base

The deployments are aimed at strengthening India's preparedness along the China-facing frontier, particularly around the strategically significant Chumbi Valley, which was at the centre of the 2017 Doklam standoff.

Military planners believe the combination of long-range missiles, integrated radar coverage and modern fighter aircraft substantially improves India's defensive posture.

Alternative Connectivity Reduces Strategic Vulnerability

India has also developed alternate connectivity routes to reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor.

Projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project through Myanmar, along with new railway and highway links to the Northeast, provide additional logistical options should the corridor ever face disruption.

These alternate routes enhance strategic flexibility and reduce the risks associated with relying on a single land corridor.

DRDO Successfully Tests Kusha Air Defence Missile

In another major defence milestone, DRDO successfully conducted a test of the indigenous Kusha air defence missile system.

The interceptor reportedly achieved a direct hit on its intended target, demonstrating India's growing capability in developing long-range air defence technologies.

The Kusha system is being developed as India's indigenous long-range air defence platform and is expected to strengthen protection against enemy aircraft, cruise missiles and certain ballistic missile threats once fully operational.

The successful trial represents another step toward greater self-reliance in defence technology under India's indigenous defence programmes.

Pakistan Faces Political Turmoil in PoK

While India continues strengthening its defence capabilities, Pakistan is dealing with growing political unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Reports suggest former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is seeking a leadership role in PoK, a move that has sparked political debate because of constitutional provisions concerning domicile requirements.

The issue comes amid continuing protests, economic grievances and security restrictions in the region.

India has consistently maintained that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan's control, are integral parts of India.

Balochistan Remains Under Pressure

Pakistan is also facing intensified insurgent activity in Balochistan, where militant attacks targeting security forces have increased in recent months.

The violence has reportedly prompted calls for additional security measures and renewed discussions over the province's stability.

Analysts believe the deteriorating security situation poses another major challenge for Islamabad as it simultaneously deals with political tensions and economic pressures.

India Reiterates Position on Kashmir and Terrorism

At the United Nations Security Council, India recently reaffirmed its long-standing position that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and rejected Pakistan's attempts to internationalise the issue.

India also reiterated that meaningful dialogue cannot proceed while cross-border terrorism continues.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, New Delhi maintained that restoring trust requires credible action against terrorism before normal engagement can resume.

India on Monday successfully flight-tested its indigenously developed Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, adding another capability to the country's deep-strike arsenal, officials said. The missile was launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, with the Ministry of Defence confirming that all mission objectives were met during the trial.

According to the Ministry, performance data for the test was captured by tracking instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, which monitored the missile through its flight path. Officials described the test as a significant milestone in India's indigenous missile development programme.

Launched From Odisha Coast

The Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, referred to by its acronym LRLACM, is designed to strike land-based targets with precision at distances of up to 1,000 km, giving the armed forces the ability to hit enemy positions deep inside hostile territory without crossing the border themselves. The subsonic missile can be fired from the ground using a mobile articulated launcher, and also from frontline warships through a universal vertical launch module system, the same launch infrastructure currently used for the BrahMos missile.

Built With Indigenous Technology

Officials said the missile has been developed entirely using indigenous technology, with all major subsystems designed by various DRDO laboratories working alongside Indian industry partners. The Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru served as the nodal laboratory overseeing the project. The LRLACM is a Defence Acquisition Council-approved, mission mode project, reflecting the priority the government has placed on developing the weapon system domestically.

Navy, Air Force Witness Test

The launch was witnessed by senior DRDO scientists along with representatives from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, both of which are expected to eventually field the system. Defence experts present at the trial said the missile is likely to significantly strengthen India's long-range strike capability once it is fully operational.

Rajnath Singh Congratulates DRDO

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO team and its industry partners following the successful trial, officials said. Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also monitored the launch activities and extended his congratulations to the teams involved in the project. The Ministry, in a statement, termed the test another step towards strengthening the country's self-reliant defence ecosystem.

Multiple Launch Platforms Planned

Beyond ground and naval launch options, an air-launched variant of the LRLACM is currently under development, with integration work under way for the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, which is expected to serve as the platform for the initial round of trials of that variant. The plan to field the missile across multiple platforms is aimed at giving the three services flexibility in how the weapon is deployed depending on operational requirements.

What Is A Cruise Missile

A cruise missile, unlike a ballistic missile, is powered by a jet engine and flies at low altitude for most of its trajectory, allowing it to alter course mid-flight and evade radar detection while closing in on a designated target with high accuracy. The LRLACM falls in this category, distinguishing it from India's other long-range systems such as the hypersonic missile tested off the same coast in 2024.

Understanding Deep-Strike Capability

In military terms, deep-strike capability refers to the ability to accurately hit targets located far inside enemy territory, such as airbases, missile launch sites, radar installations, military headquarters and command-and-control centres, without having to physically breach the border. A missile fired from within Indian territory that destroys an airbase located, say, 800 km inside hostile territory would qualify as a deep-strike capability, a benchmark the LRLACM's 1,000 km range comfortably exceeds.

With the latest trial successfully completed, the missile is expected to move closer to induction trials across the three services, even as work continues on the air-launched variant designed for integration with the Su-30MKI fleet.

Israeli PM's Jordan Valley remarks spotlight how India moved from decades of pro-Palestine solidarity to one of Israel's closest partnerships in Asia

Netanyahu's Remarkable Tribute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a leadership programme in the Jordan Valley on Thursday, called India a "huge power" with "absolutely crazy love for Israel" — even as he acknowledged the Jewish state faces delegitimisation across much of the world.

"We are expanding our alliances and what you are talking about is expanding these alliances to a large space. And the larger space is really our unique relationship with a huge power called India," Netanyahu said. A video of the remarks was released by Israel's Government Press Office.

The words landed with weight. Not because praise between allied leaders is unusual, but because of how far India has travelled to reach this point.

From Nehru to Netanyahu

Post-Independence India was, for decades, among the most vocal champions of Palestinian self-determination. The ideological roots ran deep — Mahatma Gandhi had opposed the imposition of a Jewish state on Arab land as far back as 1938, framing it as an extension of colonial logic. Nehru, scarred by India's own Partition, voted against the UN's Palestine partition plan in 1947 and opposed Israel's admission to the UN in 1949.

India recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 — among the earliest countries to do so. Yasser Arafat enjoyed an almost fraternal relationship with Indian leadership through those years.

Yet even then, the story had a quieter subplot. Israel supplied military assistance to India during the 1962 war with China, the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, and again during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Covert intelligence cooperation reportedly predated formal ties by decades.

1992: The Quiet Opening

The Cold War's collapse forced a rethink. Economic liberalisation under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao brought India closer to Western markets and, simultaneously, to Israel. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1992 — a turning point that set the stage for everything that followed.

The 1999 Kargil War deepened the bond further. Israel reportedly supplied laser-guided bombs, surveillance drones and critical equipment on short notice, cementing a perception inside India's security establishment that Israel was a reliable partner when it mattered most.

Modi Changes the Optics Entirely

The shift became most visible after 2014. Earlier governments had quietly deepened ties with Israel while keeping the public posture tilted toward Palestine. Narendra Modi changed that calculus openly. In 2017, he became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel — and notably, did not pair the trip with a Palestine stop, as his predecessors had done. He visited Ramallah separately in 2018.

Earlier this year, Modi made a second official visit to Israel, addressing the Knesset to a standing ovation and pledging "friendship, respect and partnership" with Israel at a time when its global standing has been under strain due to the Gaza war.

Ahead of that visit, Modi said India "deeply values its enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace and progress."

Defence Ties: The Backbone

The strategic partnership is not simply rhetorical. India and Israel have significantly strengthened bilateral relations across defence, agriculture, water management, cybersecurity, healthcare, and emerging technologies. According to SIPRI data cited in earlier analyses, India accounted for roughly one-third of Israel's arms exports between 2020 and 2024 — drones, missile systems, radar technology, surveillance equipment.

October 7 and the Tone That Changed

The Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 was another inflection point. Prime Minister Modi was among the first world leaders to characterise it as a "terrorist attack" and express solidarity with Israel. India's subsequent abstentions on UN resolutions calling for humanitarian ceasefires in Gaza drew attention globally — a marked departure from India's earlier posture of careful balance.

New Delhi has continued to formally support the two-state solution and Palestinian statehood. But the diplomatic signals have been unmistakable.

The Balance India Still Tries to Keep

The transformation does not mean India has abandoned its older ties. Gulf nations remain critical partners — for energy imports, Indian diaspora remittances, and investment. India maintains warm relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab states, and cannot afford to be seen as wholly aligned with Israeli military policy in the region.

But Netanyahu's "crazy love" remark — offhand as it may have sounded — captures something real. He made the comment precisely while discussing Israel's need to expand international partnerships amid security challenges on multiple fronts. India's name came up first, and it did not come up accidentally.

The arc from Nehru's vote against Israel at the UN to Modi's address to the Knesset spans seven decades. It has been shaped by security pragmatism, ideological evolution, economic interests and geopolitical realism. Whatever India's official position on the conflict in Gaza, that arc tells its own story.