For decades, the open border between India and Nepal has been a symbol of cultural closeness and shared history. But lately, that same openness has started to look like a security nightmare. What’s changed? Let’s break it down.

Nepal’s Border Districts Are Getting New Mosques and Madrasas. Lots of Them.

According to The Statesman, Over the past few years, several new Islamic religious structures – mosques, madrasas, orphanages, and community centers have popped up across Nepal’s southern belt, just across the border from Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

On paper, these look like welfare initiatives. In practice, they’re not just about faith or charity.

The driving force behind many of these projects is a Turkish NGO called the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, better known as IHH. It’s known to have had ties with extremist networks in the past, and gets significant backing from the Turkish government and its intelligence arms.

Why India Is Paying Close Attention

Here’s the thing: These aren’t isolated acts of religious outreach. Indian intelligence believes they’re part of a much broader effort — a slow, deliberate attempt to shift the demographic and ideological balance in border areas.

The concern is not just religious. It’s strategic. It’s political. And it’s potentially dangerous.

According to one intel assessment, over ₹500 crore in foreign funding has poured into these regions over just the past two years.

Turkey and Pakistan Are Tag-Teaming in Nepal

According to Foreign Policy Research Institute, Turkey kept its focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. But under President Erdoğan, Ankara has taken a sharp turn toward ideological influence-building far from home — including in South Asia.

And it’s not acting alone. Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has long been active in Nepal, and now it seems to be working in parallel with Turkish outfits like IHH. The partnership plays out through alliances with groups like Islamic Sangh Nepal (ISN) — a local Islamist network that itself faces accusations of spreading radical views.

Together, they’ve been setting up not just prayer centers but full-fledged ideological hubs. Indian agencies are especially alarmed by the potential presence of SADAT, a shadowy Turkish paramilitary outfit believed to have ties with IHH and ISN. There’s suspicion this group might be involved in covert training and logistical support right near the Indian border.

Open Borders, Closed Eyes?

India and Nepal share a 1,751 km open border. No visas. No fencing in most places. People can walk across freely.

This has historically helped both economies and brought communities closer. But it also creates the perfect environment for illicit movement of people, cash, and ideas — especially when you throw foreign-backed ideological missions into the mix.

For groups that want to stir up trouble inside India without directly confronting Indian security forces, Nepal’s open access is a dream scenario.

The Numbers Tell a Clear Story

In 2018, there were about 760 mosques in the border areas of Nepal. By 2021, that number had jumped to 1,000.

Madrasas went from 508 to 645 in the same period.

These institutions aren’t inherently problematic — but when foreign funding, extremist preaching, and lack of local oversight combine, things can get messy fast.

It’s Not Just Preaching. It’s Propaganda and Protection Too.

Some of these centers have reportedly become safehouses for radical preachers, criminal elements, and even operatives tied to terrorist networks like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Indian Mujahideen.

These aren’t just spiritual shelters. They’re also recruiting grounds and transit points.

There’s evidence that logistical and financial support for terror activities within India has been routed through Nepal using this infrastructure.

The Demographic Shift Is Real

There’s also a noticeable demographic change underway. Many villages in Nepal’s border belt now report significant rises in Muslim population density. Some areas that used to be Hindu-majority have flipped or become mixed.

Indian agencies see this as more than just normal migration. They suspect a deliberate effort to change the cultural and ideological landscape — slowly, but decisively.

And if you can shape the mindset of a generation in the borderlands, you don’t need guns to influence what happens on the other side.

India’s Response Has Finally Started But Is It Too Late?

The Indian government has launched a cleanup of sorts. In districts close to the border, authorities have started identifying and dismantling unauthorized madrasas, mosques, and community buildings funded by suspicious foreign sources.

Several illegal structures built on public land have already been demolished. The government is also tightening oversight on religious education and cross-border NGOs.

But without strong coordination with Nepalese authorities, these actions may only scratch the surface.

Why Turkey’s Playbook Is More Subtle and More Dangerous

Unlike Pakistan, which is openly adversarial toward India, Turkey is working under the radar. It avoids direct confrontation, preferring to build influence through soft power: education, religion, humanitarian aid, and cultural diplomacy.

But the result could be just as destabilizing. Because once radical ideology takes root, reining it back in becomes a far bigger challenge than stopping a border skirmish.

What This Really Means for India

This isn’t just about border management anymore. It’s about influence, identity, and internal security.

India now faces a dual-front challenge: Pakistan’s spy-driven networks on one side, and Turkey’s ideologically charged soft-power push on the other.

To deal with it, India needs more than bulldozers. It needs:

• Real-time intelligence sharing with Nepal
• Community-level engagement in vulnerable areas
• Tighter control over foreign religious funding
• And a long-term narrative strategy to counter radicalization

This is a slow game — but the clock’s already ticking.

Read More: Operation Bam: 70 Attacks in Four Days, What’s Behind the Surge?

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