India is in the process of fencing its 1,643 km border with Myanmar. However, some areas overlap in each other’s territories; so, discussions are on to settle them. One way of settling it could be through swapping areas with each other to make demarcation seamless.
“The nationality of certain areas on the border between the two countries is yet to be identified and discussions are going on to sort out issues between the two sides,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson, ministry for external affairs (MEA), while talking to Business India. Sources point out that the area under consideration is on the border with Manipur, which extends to 398 km. An area of 1.4 sq km, it is said, is likely to be exchanged.
India-Myanmar international boundary runs through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, before entering Myanmar’s Sagaing region and Chin state. A major part of the border areas is mountainous, has thick forests and is porous. Reportedly, about 1,472 km of the border has been demarcated in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit sector and Manipur’s Kabaw Valley, using boundary pillars, while nearly 171 km remains unmarked.
Fencing and patrolling the border will cost the Indian government close to $3.22 billion. One of the main reasons for the fencing is to prevent illicit trade, which includes drug trafficking, arms smuggling, wildlife and timber smuggling. General contraband and gold smuggling, as also cyber-crime and human trafficking, are rampant too.
India’s geographical proximity to the ‘Golden Triangle’ (region encompassing Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) has positioned it as both a transit corridor and a destination for various illicit drug trafficking networks. The India-Myanmar border being porous, various patterns of drug trafficking have risen exponentially after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. It has now become imperative for India to not only strengthen its border management strategies but also foster deeper bilateral co-operation with Myanmar to effectively address these evolving security challenges.
As a core component of the ‘Golden Triangle’ known for its extensive opium cultivation and narcotics trafficking, Myanmar plays a pivotal role in the regional drug trade. These overlapping crises have amplified drug trafficking activities, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar border, which remains highly susceptible due to its porous nature and limited security infrastructure.
There has been a notable escalation in opium cultivation, which has exacerbated drug trafficking across the region. According to a report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), rural farmers in remote areas of Myanmar have turned to opium cultivation as a means of livelihood after the military, security and government disruptions that followed the military takeover on 1 February 2021.
Signed agreement
The demarcation of boundaries was done earlier by the Joint Boundary Commission of the two countries, which was constituted under a signed agreement in 1967. In 2018, the government had informed Parliament that 171 km would be demarcated through a boundary mechanism established by both countries. This would include identification and erection of nine border pillars.
The controversial part of the boundary in Manipur lies between border pillars 64 and 68 at Molcham, border pillars 75 and 79 at Moreh and border pillars 88 and 95 at Choro Khunou. Assam Rifles of the Indian Army maintains law and order on the Indo-Myanmar border.
India has adopted a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy aimed at enhancing border management in the North Eastern Region (NER). This includes border fencing, floodlighting of an additional 612 km, erection of poles, laying of cables, fitting of fixtures and energisation and all-weather roads to improve accessibility and security in the remote areas. Technological interventions, such as the deployment of advanced surveillance systems and integrated border monitoring technologies, have also been prioritised to bolster situational awareness and early threat detection. Parallel to these security measures, the government continues to implement developmental initiatives like the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).
It is hoped that the demarcation of the border will finally be achieved – be it through a swap or some other options that the governments of India and Myanmar may be discussing. However, from a security point of view, the earlier it is done, the better!