Guwahati: Myanmar has assured India that it will not allow its territory to be used for activities detrimental to India’s security interests during the 23rd National-Level Meeting between India and Myanmar held in New Delhi on July 7, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening border management and security cooperation even as the country’s prolonged civil conflict continues to reshape the security landscape along the India-Myanmar frontier.
The meeting was co-chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Major General Min Thu. The two sides reviewed issues relating to border management, cross-border insurgency, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, intelligence sharing and coordinated action against transnational crimes.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, both countries reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and stability along the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border. Myanmar assured that its territory would not be allowed to serve as a base for activities threatening India’s security, while both sides agreed to strengthen coordination between border guarding forces and enhance information sharing.
The assurance assumes significance as India remains increasingly concerned over the deteriorating security situation in Myanmar following the military takeover in February 2021. The civil war has weakened the junta’s authority across large parts of the country, particularly in regions bordering India’s northeastern states, making it more difficult for Naypyidaw to enforce commitments related to border security.
While India and Myanmar have maintained close security cooperation for decades and jointly conducted operations against insurgent groups in the past, the current situation presents new challenges. Diplomatic commitments made by the junta government often face implementation hurdles because large stretches of territory are no longer under the effective control of the Myanmar military.
Another challenge stems from India’s decision to end the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fence the international border. While the government says the measures are necessary to curb illegal migration, arms smuggling and insurgent movement, several tribal communities living along the border have expressed concerns as families and traditional tribal lands are spread across both countries. The ongoing conflict has also contributed to increased trafficking of narcotics and weapons and the movement of refugees into India’s northeastern states.
Since the military coup, Myanmar has witnessed a major territorial realignment. The junta continues to control key cities, military bases and important transport corridors. However, several ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and anti-junta People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) have consolidated control over significant parts of the country’s border regions.
Along India’s frontier, Chin resistance groups have established influence across much of Chin State, while large parts of Sagaing Region remain contested between the Myanmar military, local People’s Defence Forces and ethnic armed organisations. The Naga Self-Administered Zone in Sagaing continues to witness the presence of Naga armed groups, while in western Myanmar, the Arakan Army has emerged as the dominant force across large parts of Rakhine State. This fragmented territorial control has reduced the Myanmar military’s ability to exercise authority uniformly along the border.
The changing security dynamics have also affected the presence of Indian insurgent groups operating from Myanmar. According to international media reports, including Reuters, and assessments by security analysts, several insurgent organisations from India’s Northeast have historically maintained camps or logistical networks in northern Myanmar, particularly in Sagaing Region and the Naga Self-Administered Zone, close to the borders with Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Security experts say that outfits such as the ULFA (Independent), factions of the NSCN, PLA, PREPAK, KYKL and other valley-based insurgent groups have traditionally used remote areas of Sagaing and adjoining regions for shelter, training and logistics. However, the ongoing civil war has forced several groups to relocate camps or disperse their cadres as fighting between the Myanmar military and resistance forces has intensified. The exact locations of these camps remain difficult to independently verify, and Indian intelligence agencies do not publicly disclose operational details.
Against this backdrop, Myanmar’s latest assurance is viewed as diplomatically significant for India. However, analysts note that the effectiveness of such commitments will ultimately depend on the ground realities inside Myanmar, where multiple armed actors not just the military junta exercise control over different parts of the country bordering India’s Northeast.