The Indian Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, recently announced the termination of the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), a policy that has allowed citizens of both nations to move freely across their shared border. Shah expressed, in a post made on X platform (formerly Twitter), that the measure was taken to fortify India’s internal security and maintain the demographic structure of its northeastern states situated along the Myanmar border.
This border, currently unguarded and marked by familial and ethnic ties between people on either side, is due to undergo another major change. The Indian Government has unveiled plans to construct a 1,643-kilometer fence along this previously open boundary, supplemented with a patrol pathway to enhance surveillance capabilities. Following the recommendation of the Ministry of External Affairs, FMR was immediately suspended in anticipation of this development.
Once the fence is in place, entry into India for Myanmar nationals will require procuring a visa and using only stipulated border checkpoints or airports. The decision comes amidst escalating strife and political instability in Myanmar, characterized by widespread protests demanding democracy’s restoration after a military coup in February 2021. India’s northeastern states, notably Mizoram and Manipur, have particular concerns about their security given their proximity to these volatile regions.
The 1,643-kilometer India-Myanmar border runs through Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh and was governed by FMR since its establishment in 2018. FMR was a part of India’s Act East policy, aimed at fostering stronger business and trade relations with Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific nations. Under FMR, residents from hill tribes, irrespective of their nationality, living within 16 km on either side of the border were allowed to cross over on presenting a valid border pass and stay up to two weeks during each visit.
For further information, refer to the detailed report provided by JURIST – News.