6th ICG-Assam Rifles JWG Meet Strengthens Joint Operations and Synergy

In a display of growing inter-agency cooperation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Assam Rifles concluded the 6th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on June 27, 2025, at the ICG District Headquarters No. 4 in Kochi, Kerala & Mahe. The meeting underscored the two forces' continued efforts to enhance operational interoperability, institutional synergy, and mutual trust.

Strategic Focus: Interoperability and Best Practices

The 2025 edition of the JWG meeting placed a strong emphasis on expanding cooperation through enhanced interoperability. Key deliberations included joint operational protocols, use of emerging technologies, and procedures for rapid deployment in response to security threats or natural disasters.

A significant portion of the dialogue revolved around the sharing of best practices drawn from field operations, including coastal surveillance, counter-insurgency, disaster relief, and intelligence coordination. As both forces operate in challenging terrains—ICG at sea and Assam Rifles in the northeast hinterlands—cross-learning has been identified as a powerful tool for strengthening national security.

Reinforcing Institutional Ties Since 2019

This year’s meeting marks another milestone in a robust partnership that began formally on May 22, 2019, with the signing of an affiliation agreement in Shillong. Since then, the ICG and Assam Rifles have consistently built upon their institutional relationship, conducting joint training exercises, adventure activities, and cultural exchange programs.

Senior officials from both services reiterated their commitment to carrying this legacy forward, emphasizing the need for regular reviews of collaborative frameworks and continuous integration of each other’s expertise into daily functioning.

Training, Sports & Cultural Exchange as Key Pillars

Beyond tactical coordination, the meeting spotlighted the importance of soft-power engagement through joint training, sports competitions, and adventure missions such as mountaineering, sailing expeditions, and field survival exercises.

Such activities not only help foster camaraderie but also promote physical resilience, mental agility, and mutual respect among personnel. The leaders agreed to expand such opportunities for junior and mid-level officers to build cross-service understanding from the ground up.

The two forces also discussed increasing the frequency of officer exchanges and short-term attachments in each other’s operational environments. This initiative is expected to equip officers with a broader view of India’s internal and maritime security landscape.

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Synergy

Given their respective roles in responding to crises—ICG in maritime rescue and Assam Rifles in disaster relief and border area support—the JWG discussed ways to streamline their collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.

Officials emphasised creating integrated response plans for flood situations, cyclonic storms, and major search-and-rescue operations where coastal and inland responses must synchronise. Logistics sharing, rapid communication protocols, and shared operational dashboards were identified as future areas for improvement.

Building for the Future

Both the ICG and Assam Rifles acknowledged the evolving nature of security challenges, especially with emerging threats such as cyberattacks, smuggling networks, and hybrid warfare. As India modernises its defense and internal security apparatus, cooperation between such agencies is increasingly seen as essential to maintaining resilience and operational readiness.

The 6th JWG meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to hold periodic reviews, strengthen institutional frameworks, and leverage each other’s strengths to safeguard national interests across domains—from the coastline to the frontlines.

As India’s security matrix becomes more interlinked, partnerships like that of the ICG and Assam Rifles offer a model for how inter-agency trust, operational training, and shared mission ethos can enhance national preparedness for both traditional and non-traditional threats.