India wants to erect a fence along its long and porous border with Burma, abandoning a free movement agreement in the border area, Indian media reported on Sunday (January 21).
This announcement, made by Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah, comes after hundreds of Burmese soldiers, who were fleeing attacks by ethnic minority groups, crossed the Indian border.
The government has “
decided to fence the entire open border between India and Myanmar
,” Amit Shah said Saturday during a visit to the northeastern state of Assam, according to a video released by the Times of India.
This border extends for more than 1,200 kilometers, through the jungle and snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
Amit Shah, who gave no details on the timetable or how the fence would be built, said the government would also end a free movement agreement between the two countries.
The agreement allows residents of border areas to travel limited distances within the territory of the neighboring country without a visa.
“
We are going to end this system
,” Amit Shah said.
Frequent clashes
India has already fenced more than 2,000 kilometers of border with Pakistan and at least 3,100 kilometers with Bangladesh, according to government statistics from 2021.
Some areas of Myanmar close to the Indian border have seen frequent clashes since Arakan Army (AA) fighters attacked government forces in November, ending a largely respected ceasefire since the coup. military state which placed the Burmese junta in power in 2021.
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In October, an alliance including fighters from the AA and other ethnic minorities launched a joint offensive in northern Burma, seizing crucial sites for trade on the Chinese border.
In early January, the alliance announced a ceasefire negotiated by China, but it does not apply to areas near the Indian border, where fighting continues.