Chicken's Neck: India's Strategic Reinforcement Along Eastern Frontier

PARWINDER SANDHU, SNS, New Delhi, 12 November 2025 : Attention has once again turned to the "Chicken's Neck," the narrow Siliguri Corridor that connects India's northeast to the mainland, following the construction of three new military garrisons and an air power demonstration by the Indian Air Force in Guwahati. Given the evolving dynamics between China and India, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India's increased military presence along the eastern frontier is being viewed as a strategic response to China's construction of missile silos, fortified villages, and military installations in Nepal, Bihar, West Bengal, and near the border.

The Siliguri Corridor, which runs through West Bengal and borders Bangladesh, Nepal, China's Chumbi Valley in Tibet, and the Kingdom of Bhutan, is just 17 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. As the sole land link between India and its eight northeastern states, the Siliguri Corridor, stretching from the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Terai regions of West Bengal towards the northeast, holds immense strategic importance. The corridor is often described as India’s “chokepoint” due to its critical position in connecting the eastern states to the rest of the country.

Beijing is reportedly constructing at least two fortified air defense installations in the Tibet Autonomous Region, according to recent reports backed by satellite imagery and analysis from Planet Labs, a commercial geospatial intelligence company. Retractable roof shelters designed to conceal missile launch systems are being incorporated into these structures. These shelters provide significant protection against detection and potential enemy strikes, enhancing China's offensive capabilities along the region's border.

China’s increasing defense cooperation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor has also raised concerns among Indian defense planners. Speaking to the media, Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), observed that the China-Pakistan defense relationship has advanced beyond traditional arms transfers. He expressed concern that Beijing appears to be using its close relationship with Islamabad as a testing ground for new technologies, including advanced weapons platforms and surveillance systems in real-world combat situations.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi recently described the corridor as India's "strongest defense corridor," emphasizing its strategic significance. Given the growing threats from China and its allies, the Indian government is focused on reinforcing this critical area with enhanced military infrastructure and tactical readiness to safeguard the nation's eastern frontier.