S Jaishankar: Border infra improved, better placed to counter China

“If you ask whether after 2014, the Indian military and the Indian Air Force are able to deploy and counter any Chinese movement better, the answer is yes, absolutely,” he told reporters.

He said that the governments before 2014 had “neglected” the border infrastructure. Jaishankar said the mobility of armed forces and the civilians has increased in the last few years because of the focus on enhancement of infrastructure in the frontier areas.

“The capability is growing year after year,” he said.

The minister said the infrastructure push along the Northern border will determine India’s response to security challenges.

He said the Narendra Modi government’s commitment is to secure borders and defend the national interest, and that this is reflected in infrastructure development in the border.

He said that the budget for border infrastructure has increased four-fold since 2008. He said roads, bridges and tunnels are being constructed at a rapid pace and multiple ministries and departments — Defence, Roads, Home, External Affairs — are working to complete these.

He also said the government is building infrastructure with other neighbouring countries, from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. But he said that there were challenges in implementing projects in Myanmar due to the “security situation” there.