India has set up three new military bases in the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor—widely known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’—which connects mainland India to the country’s northeastern states. According to a report published by India Today on Friday, the new army bases have been established at Bamuni (near Dhubri), Kishanganj, and Chopra to enhance surveillance and rapid deployment capabilities along the Bangladesh border.
A senior official in India’s intelligence community told the media that the move is aimed at strengthening oversight in previously vulnerable gaps and ensuring faster troop mobilization if required. The Siliguri Corridor is considered one of India’s most critical military choke points. The narrow 22-kilometer-wide strip of land borders Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China—making it a high-risk strategic zone.
Military analysts warn that any disruption in this corridor would cut off the entire ‘Seven Sisters’ region from the Indian mainland. For this reason, Indian authorities consider the area a national security priority.
The India Today report further linked the development to recent diplomatic and military engagement between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, recently visited Dhaka and held talks with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus regarding defense connectivity and cooperation. Following the visit, India appears to have accelerated military fortification along the corridor.
An Indian Army officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the Siliguri Corridor is “one of India’s most fortified military zones,” with multiple layers of security already in place. He emphasized that India retains the ability to mass troops there in a very short time.
Earlier, the Indian Army Chief also asserted confidence in the region’s defense posture, saying: “The Chicken’s Neck is not a vulnerability. It is one of our strongest sectors. Troops stationed across West Bengal, Sikkim, and the Northeast can be rapidly concentrated here if necessary.”
