India Concerned Over ‘Chicken’s Neck’; Reactivating 5 WWII Airbases

According to a report by the Times of India, the airbases being reactivated are: Ambari and Panga in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, Balurghat in South Dinajpur, Jhaljhalia in Malda, and one base in Assam's Dhubri district.

Citing government sources, the report mentioned that fresh security concerns regarding the Siliguri Corridor have emerged against the backdrop of recently strained relations with Bangladesh. As a result, New Delhi has taken this initiative to reactivate these bases as part of strategic preparedness.

During World War II, the then-British colonial government constructed several airbases across West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura to thwart the advance of Japanese forces. During the same period, an airbase was also established in the Lalmonirhat district of present-day Bangladesh.

Indian government officials stated they recently learned that the Bangladesh government has decided to reconstruct the Lalmonirhat airbase. Following this information, the Indian Central Government moved to reactivate its own bases in the Eastern and Northeastern regions.

Strategically, the 20 to 22-kilometer wide Siliguri Corridor is vital for India. This narrow strip maintains the connection between mainland India and the seven northeastern states. Furthermore, the borders of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh converge in this region.

According to experts, the decision to revive these historically significant airbases is a key component of India's regional security strategy.