Border clashes often take place in the world. According to multiple sources including the BBC, several border clashes have already taken place in 2023. The border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, between Iran and Afghanistan and between Pakistan and Afghanistan are some notable border clashes that have by this time happened in 2023. Many other border clashes ranging from minor skirmishes — which often lead to unnecessary and avoidable deaths of soldiers and civilians, heighten tensions between neighboring nations, or can potentially escalate into a full-scale war(s) — to full scale military wars, the impacts of which are more devastating, took place earlier in the world. Despite immediate efforts to de-escalate border clashes, they take place between different countries.
It is notable that there are territorial, diplomatic failure based and other factors that lead to border clashes including skirmishes. Territorial disputes, ethnic tensions and historical grievances are some of the crucial factors responsible for border clashes. But territorial disputes driven by conflicting claims over land and/or maritime boundaries often lead to border clashes between different countries. The Sino-India territorial disputes, for instance, led to border clashes between India and China in 2020. Competitions between/among countries for valuable resources including oil, gas or minerals when they are located near the border also result in border clashes. According to multiple sources, the 2012 armed conflict between Sudan and South Sudan along their shared border was driven by resource competition, specifically over oil-rich territories that both countries claim ownership of.
Political tensions or disagreements between neighboring countries, driven by historical conflicts, ideological differences and other factors, diplomatic failure to mitigate disputes regarding the demarcation, ownership or control of their shared borders and failure to prevent border clashes are also some other notable factors that drive border clashes between different countries. There are many examples of diplomatic failures that led to border clashes in the world. Diplomatic failure, for instance, resulted in the Eritrean-Ethiopian border war of 1998-2000 and the Yeonpyeong Island incident between North and South Korea in 2010. Among others, pursuing the agendas of nations without any reasoned consideration of other countries which makes diplomatic efforts fail also leads to tensions between neighboring countries and border clashes.
The vital aspect is whether border clashes can be prevented altogether. It is definitely difficult to do so, though some border clashes can be prevented. Multifaceted factors are responsible for it. One major factor is the complexity of border disputes, which often involve conflicting claims of territories that have already been changed multiple times and are difficult to resolve. Additionally, the historical and cultural differences — which often lead to misunderstandings and mistrust — are deeply rooted in different bordering nations, making it difficult to prevent border clashes. Among others, the presence of armed non-state actors in border regions and the lack of effective communication and cooperation between neighboring countries exacerbate the chance of border clashes and make it challenging to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Though it is difficult to prevent all border clashes, many border clashes including skirmishes can be prevented. But effective diplomatic efforts are crucial. Regular diplomatic meetings and the establishment of hotlines or communication channels dedicated to addressing border-related issues can promptly prevent and de-escalate border clashes between different countries. The India-China hotline, established in 2018, plays a crucial role in diffusing tensions along their disputed border areas. Additionally, confidence-building measures and joint border initiatives between neighboring countries can help build trust and reduce the likelihood of escalations on borders that may lead to border clashes. The mediation of third-party parties, neighboring countries, international organizations and other countries, is also crucial to preventing and de-escalating border clashes many times.
But the emphasis needs to be given to the resolution of border disputes and establishing clear demarcation lines to help prevent border clashes and maintain stability. This can be achieved through direct discussions between the parties involved through which they can address their concerns and explore potential compromises, taking into account their historical, cultural and other related factors. Multilateral negotiations involving international mediators are also crucial many times for reaching solutions. Additionally, international arbitration which involves submitting the dispute to an international tribunal, which makes a binding decision based on international law, may be helpful sometimes. Among others, fostering cultural exchanges can help build trust and improve relations.
