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Rattan Chand Sharma, Commandant (Retd) BSF
Joined: December 21, 2022
The author retired as a commandant in the Border Security Force. Before joining the BSF, he served in the Indian Army as a short service commissioned officer. After retirement, he had a brief stint in the academia. Currently, he is a commentator on security and strategic issues and regularly contributes to various well-known journals.

 
     
 
Unfenced Borders: Why prioritize jurisdiction over infrastructure?
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma contends that expanding BSF jurisdiction to 50km without completing border fencing is security theatre that damages federal relations while leaving India's borders vulnerable.
7 DAYS AGO
 
 
Why 8th Pay Commission must recognize CAPF personnel as true soldiers
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma strongly advocates for the 8th Pay Commission to recognize CAPF personnel as true soldiers and give them their due NFU and other financial benefits.
4 WEEKS AGO
 
 
Bangladesh in Turmoil: Why BSF must abandon non-lethal tactics now
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, writes that with the current political situation in Bangladesh turning rapidly anti-India, the BSF must shun its old approach of using non-lethal force to prevent infiltration and nefarious cross-border activities.
A MONTH AGO
 
 
Radicalization in India is a national crisis that demands constitutional resolve
In this op-ed, former BSF commandant RC Sharma writes that radicalization in India is not a communal problem but a national crisis, and gives a two-step solution to curb it.
2 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Fighting White-Collar Terror: India’s battle begins in the classroom
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, argues that for India to neutralize the threat from homegrown, educated professionals radicalized to carry out terrorism, it must counter radicalization in educational institutions.
3 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Supreme Court judgment on CAPF officers is final. Implementation must begin
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes CAPF cadre officers have proven their competence and combat capabilities and the Supreme Court has now definitively ruled in their favour. The Centre must immediately implement the judgment.
3 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Democratic Dilemma: How elections compromise border security
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma warns that every election season turns border security into a gamble, with troops withdrawn from frontline duties to guard ballot boxes. He argues that illegal immigration and infiltration spike during these periods – and offers practical alternatives to break this cycle.
4 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Ladakh Violence: When promises meet reality on India’s strategic frontier
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes that the government must address the legitimate concerns of the Ladakhis, or risk converting disappointment into chronic unrest that serves only India’s adversaries.
5 MONTHS AGO
 
 
My Identity Crisis: The CAPF soldier’s perennial dilemma
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, argues that the CAPFs are constitutionally recognized as armed forces of the Union but suffer from a manufactured identity crisis due to inconsistent government nomenclature and denied rightful benefits.
5 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Prime Minister Modi’s Manipur Visit: A welcome initiative, but is it too late?
In this op-ed, former BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes PM Modi’s long-overdue Manipur visit is a welcome step, but the state’s problems are intricate and require delicate handling that rises above political mathematics and considerations.
5 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Beyond Fencing: The complex reality of India’s most vulnerable border
In this op-ed on India-Bangladesh border, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, writes PM Modi’s emphasis on demographic changes reflects legitimate security concerns, but addressing this effectively demands nuanced approaches.
5 MONTHS AGO
 
 
End Colonial Charade: Implement Supreme Court judgment on CAPF officers now
In this must-read op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes the Centre’s review petition on the Supreme Court judgment on CAPF cadre officers exposes the very colonial mindset that PM Modi’s “Panch Pran” seeks to eliminate.
6 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Despite compulsive détente, China frontier paradox remains for India
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes that in the seeming thawing ties between New Delhi and Beijing, India must not lower its guard while the frontier paradox with China persists.
6 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Blood, Sweat, and Bureaucracy: Supreme Court’s CAPF ruling demands immediate implementation
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes that the Supreme Court judgment on CAPF recognizes the genuine nature of CAPF cadre officers’ grievances. Therefore, the Centre must not drag its feet in immediately implementing the apex court’s order.
6 MONTHS AGO
 
 
CAPF Leadership Crisis: Supreme Court speaks, government must act
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes that since the Supreme Court has ruled the CRFP, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB as “organized Group A services”, the Centre must implement the judgment and fix the leadership issue in these CAPFs.
7 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Border security or border combat? India’s western challenge
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes that in the light of the changed security dynamics with Pakistan, India’s western border-security paradigm requires major restructuring.
7 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Decoding Pakistan’s strategic gambit under Field Marshal Asim Munir and its impact on India’s western border
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes the promotion of Pakistan Army chief’s elevation to the rank of field marshal is neither nominal nor ceremonial but deeply strategic.
8 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Border Security Force is an armed force, not police, nation must know
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, writes that the BSF is an armed force by definition, design, and role. He explains the points with facts and urges the nation not to categorize it as a police force.
8 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Border Security Force must brainstorm to meet dynamic battle challenges
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, writes that after the Border Security Force’s sterling performance in thwarting Pakistan’s cross-border designs during OperationSindoor, the force must now do a brainstorming to address whatever shortcomings it has becoming an even more potent force.
9 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Operation Sindoor: How BSF’s ‘offensive defence’ thwarted Pakistan’s designs
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, highlights the critical role that the Border Security Force played in thwarting Pakistan’s designs after India’s airstrikes conducted under Operation Sindoor.
9 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Operation Sindoor: Was the ceasefire premature? Analysing its strategic impact
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, analyses whether India’s quick acceptance of the ceasefire with Pakistan, which brought an abrupt end to Operation Sindoor, was premature and the strategic impact of the brief military operation.
9 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Pahalgam attack: An opportunity to unite against terrorism
In this op-ed, Rattan Chand Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, writes that the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent political reaction in the country has rekindled the hope of successfully combating terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir while bringing stability to the Union territory.
9 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Pahalgam terror attack is a wake-up call to shed myopic view on Jammu & Kashmir proxy war
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, writes that the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam shows that the scourge of terrorism and militancy in J&K is not area specific. To effectively fight it, the Indian establishment must shed its myopic view on the proxy war.
10 MONTHS AGO
 
 
How India must handle the Bangladesh challenge in northeast
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, discusses the recent developments regarding Bangladesh and its deepening ties with India’s top two adversaries, possible implications for the northeast, and how India should navigate the new strategic challenges posed by Dhaka’s interim regime.
10 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Intelligence and structured force deployment key to finish Jammu & Kashmir militancy
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma writes in the light of the recent Kathua encounter that to finish militancy in Jammu & Kashmir, intelligence and structured force deployment would be the key.
10 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Defeating Naxalism by March 2026 is an achievable target
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, says the Centre’s target to eradicate the decades-long Naxalite insurgency by March 2026 is achievable if it can strategize things correctly.
11 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Bangladesh’s descent into chaos is a looming threat to India’s eastern frontier
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the prevailing political chaos in Bangladesh and the interim Muhammad Yunus regime’s growing hostility towards India makes it crucial that New Delhi immediately takes countermeasures. He also proposes a radical way to secure the strategic Siliguri Corridor.
12 MONTHS AGO
 
 
India’s border-security infrastructure needs more than marginal budget hikes
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the India’s budget allocation for border security and management is less than adequate. He gives his reason why it is so while exhorting the government to do more.
12 MONTHS AGO
 
 
Bangladesh’s shifting posture has strategic implications for regional stability
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the complexity of the challenges posed by Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus administration demands sophisticated strategic thinking, decisive action, and careful calibration of diplomatic and security measures by India. Please have a look
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
Think professionally, beyond political gains, for peace in Manipur
In this op-ed, veteran BSF Commandant RC Sharma argues that resolving Manipur’s conflict requires political leaders to prioritize peace over partisan interests and take decisive, principled action.
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
India’s law enforcement must not hide behind shield of police reforms
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma says India’s police forces need not wait for wholesale reforms to improve their public relations and how they conduct themselves as there is ample scope to do so within the current framework.
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
India must consolidate its western front to tame Pakistan
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, discusses the importance of consolidating India’s western front to tame Pakistan and suggests a path to end Islamabad’s sponsorship of terrorism.
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
Manipur needs immediate central intervention to restore order
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, discusses the escalation of the Manipur ethnic strife with the recent use of drones and rockets and gives a 4-point formula to restore peace.
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
Robust human intelligence network is the key to defeat militancy in Jammu & Kashmir
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, highlights the importance of human intelligence in counterinsurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and ways to strengthening it.
ONE YEAR AGO
 
 
Bangladesh crisis: India’s security challenges and strategy to tackle them
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma writes that the India-Bangladesh border is among the most difficult to guard, control, and manage, and suggests ways to meet the challenges.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Spike in Jammu & Kashmir militant attacks: Time to reanalyse and restrategize
In this op-ed, former BSF commandant RC Sharma discusses the unprecedented spike in militant attacks on security forces in the Jammu region and lays down a framework on how to contain the situation.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
National security and India-US convergence
In this op-ed, former BSF commandant RC Sharma discusses the implications of India-US security cooperation will likely to have for New Delhi in the rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, especially in the Indo-Pacific region and its neighbourhood.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Restrategizing anti-Naxalite operations is key to end Maoist insurgency
In his latest op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma writes that the momentum gained by the recent success by a joint BSF and DRG operation in Bastar’s Kanker against Naxalite insurgents must be maintained by restrategizing future operations.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Need ethics code and cooling-off period for veterans joining politics
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma writes that we must welcome veterans in politics, but there must be a cooling-off period for them before joining and an ethics code must govern their conduct.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
India-Myanmar Border: Construct fence and strengthen free-movement regime
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma writes on the India-Myanmar border and presents a strong case to build a fence and to bring back the free-movement regime.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Bringing Jammu & Kashmir out of the quagmire of militancy
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma writes on the perpetual state of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir and suggests ways to pull it out of the quagmire.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Tackling attrition in CAPFs: A call for in-depth analysis and proactive measures
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma discusses the high rate of attrition in the CAPFs, analyses the causes, and suggests some changes to tackle the concerning issue.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
October 7 Hamas raid in Israel: Lessons for India in border guarding
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant Rattan Chand Sharma says our border-guarding CAPFs have much to learn from the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He also suggests a few things that the border-guarding and security establishment can adopt.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Duality of command in border guarding detrimental to national security
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant Rattan Chand Sharma bats for for placing border-guarding CAPFs under one command both in India’s settled and unsettled borders. He says duality in command makes harms India’s security interests.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
India-Myanmar border guarding needs a fresh approach
In this op-ed, veteran BSF commandant RC Sharma calls upon the Centre to deploy the BSF on the India-Myanmar border and relieve the Assam Rifles to focus solely on counterinsurgency. He puts forward cogent arguments to support his case.
2 YEARS AGO
 
 
Manipur violence is becoming a national security threat, government must act now
In this article, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the Manipur violence is becoming a national security threat and gives some suggestions to the Centre to stop it from spreading to other states.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Now, Manipur calls for ‘aggressive’ peace posturing
In this article, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, discusses the ongoing Manipur violence and calls to resolve the inter-community strife there with “aggressive” peace posturing.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Manipur crisis will end only if government sheds its parochial vision
In this article, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, discusses the ongoing Manipur violence with possible solutions to resolve the inter-community strife there.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Implement professional protocol for higher postings in border-guarding CAPFs
In this article, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, makes a strong case for the implementation of the National Police Commission’s 6th Report, in which it recommends that two cadres be created within the IPS to cater to paramilitary forces and other central police forces.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Pulwama attack needs answers to avoid politicization of security, end speculations
In this op-ed, former BSF commandant RC Sharma writes that in the wake of former J&K governor Satya Pal Malik’s comments on the February 2019 Pulwama attack, which was then followed up by remarks from former COAS Gen Shankar Roychowdhury, an honest and thorough probe must be carried out to put to rest all speculations.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
High time government empowers BSF cadre officers lead the force at highest level
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, former BSF commandant, makes a strong case for BSF cadre officers to lead the force considering their professional competence and experience gained by being being integral part of systematic command hierarchy for 57 years.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
In Punjab, healing touch needed to defang separatists
In this op-ed, former BSF commandant Rattan Chand Sharma writes that to defang the Punjab separatists, the state and Centre must come together and give a healing touch to the people in the state with genuine grievances. He also suggests several issues that need to be resolved urgently.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Punjab turbulence impacts national security, collective effort required to maintain peace
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the current spurt in radicalism in Punjab is an ominous sign for the country and state. Since it is still in its infancy, it can be nipped in the bud to prevent Punjab from sliding into the dark days of 1980s.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
LAC imbroglio: India needs to shed its hesitancy in dealing with China
In this article, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, opines that India must shed its hesitancy and passive attitude in dealing with China to end the LAC imbroglio. He says India must respond in a manner that earns China’s respect.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
Revival of militancy in Punjab: Need collective will to stop it
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says there are ominous signs of militancy being revived in Punjab and to tackle this, the state and its police must change the way they are handling looming danger at present.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
India-China LAC clashes: New Delhi must force Beijing to blink
In this op-ed, RC Sharma, veteran BSF commandant, says the recent Tawang clash between Indian and Chinese troops is a part of the pattern of aggression China started showing since Galwan 2020, and this will continue unless India takes countermeasures.
3 YEARS AGO
 
 
 
 

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