India–Myanmar border#Barrier
{{Short description|Border separating India and Myanmar}}
File:Burma Indian map.png" are part of present-day Bangladesh)]]
The India–Myanmar border is the international border between India and Myanmar (formerly Burma). The border is {{convert|1,643|km|mi}} in length and runs from the tripoint with China in the north to the tripoint with Bangladesh in the south.{{cite web |title=Burma |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burma/ |publisher=CIA World Factbook |access-date=17 September 2020 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210200835/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burma/ |url-status=live }}
History
= 19th century =
The first formation of the Indo-Burmese border was through the First Anglo-Burmese War, which resulted in the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826. The Burmese relinquished control over Assam, Manipur, Rakhine (Arakan), and the Taninthayi coast, thereby delimiting much of the modern boundary in general terms.{{cite book | title=History of Burma | author=Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. Phayre | year=1967 | page=237 | edition=2 | publisher=Sunil Gupta | location=London}}{{cite book | title=The Making of Modern Burma | url=https://archive.org/details/makingmodernburm00myin | url-access=limited | author=Thant Myint-U | year=2001 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn= 978-0-521-79914-0 | page=[https://archive.org/details/makingmodernburm00myin/page/n29 20]}} In 1834 the Kabaw Valley areas was returned to Burma and a modified boundary delimited in this region, dubbed the 'Pemberton Line' after a British boundary commissioner, which was later refined in 1881.
In 1837 the Patkai Hills were unilaterally designated as the northern boundary.
Large swathes of Burma were annexed to the British Empire following the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852–53.{{cite book|url=http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/Burma/bur_history.pdf|author=D.G.E.Hall|year=1960|title=Burma|publisher=Hutchinson University Library|pages=109–113|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050519230755/http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/Burma/bur_history.pdf|archive-date=2005-05-19}} The remainder of Burma was conquered in 1885 and incorporated into British India as a province.{{cite book | title=The Victorians at war, 1815-1914: an encyclopedia of British military history | page=70}}{{cite book | title=The Making of Modern Burma | url=https://archive.org/details/makingmodernburm00myin | url-access=limited | pages=[https://archive.org/details/makingmodernburm00myin/page/n27 18]| author=Thant Myint-U|year=2001|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-79914-7}}{{cite book | title=Gentlemen Capitalists: British Imperialism in South East Asia, 1770–1890 | first=Anthony|last= Webster | publisher=I.B.Tauris | year=1998 | pages=142–145 | isbn=978-1-86064-171-8}}
In 1894 a boundary between Manipur and the Chin Hills (recognized as part of Burma) was delimited, and the existing 'Pemberton line' boundary modified again in 1896. Further boundary modifications were made in 1901, 1921 and 1922.
= 20th century =
In 1937 Burma was split off from India and became a separate colony.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080117060229/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,788006,00.html Sword For Pen], TIME Magazine, 12 April 1937 In 1947 India gained independence, however the country was partitioned into two states (India and Pakistan), with the southernmost section of the Burma-India border becoming that between Burma and East Pakistan (modern Bangladesh). Burma gained independence in 1948. On 10 March 1967 Burma and India signed a boundary treaty which delimited their common frontier in detail. Security along the border has often been poor, owing to ongoing conflicts in north-east India and western Myanmar.{{cite web |last1=Das |first1=Pushpita |title=India-Myanmar Border Problems: Fencing not the only solution |url=https://idsa.in/idsacomments/IndiaMyanmarBorderProblems_pdas_151113 |website=IDSA |date=15 November 2013 |access-date=22 September 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001204002/https://idsa.in/idsacomments/IndiaMyanmarBorderProblems_pdas_151113 |url-status=live }}
= Free movement regime =
{{anchor | FMR }}
The India–Myanmar border previously had a Free Movement Regime (FMR), allowing border tribes to travel visa-free up to {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} across, which was terminated by Indian government in February 2024 due to 2023–2025 Manipur violence and rampant illegal cross-border activities. This facilitated movement for over 300,000 people in border villages, rooted in historical economic and cultural ties acknowledged by both nations through reciprocal passport rule amendments in 1948-50, permitting travel within {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} with short stays.{{citation |title=Indo-Myanmar Border Trade: Status, Problems, and Potentials |editor1=Gurudas Das |editor2=N. Bijoy Singh |editor3=C. Joshua Thomas |publisher=Akansha Publishing House |year=2005 |isbn=9788183700078 |ref={{sfnref|Das, Singh & Thomas, Indo-Myanmar Border Trade|2005}}}}, p. 45-46.Pushpita Das, [https://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/Free-Movement-Regime-PDas-170123 Free Movement Regime: A Unique Feature of the India-Myanmar Border], Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 17 January 2024. Initially unrestricted, India introduced a permit system in 1968 due to insurgencies, and later, in 2004, limited the travel distance to {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} and designated three crossing points due to rising drug and arms trafficking. A formal Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018 required border passes for residents within {{convert|16|km}} with a 14-day stay limit. Amidst the violence, insurgency and rampant illegal cross-border activities, the Indian government terminated the FMR in February 2024, facing opposition from Mizoram government and some civil society groups.Harsh V. Pant, Sreeparna Banerjee, [https://www.orfonline.org/research/fencing-frontiers-with-myanmar-the-benefits-and-challenges-of-fmr-along-india-myanmar-border Fencing frontiers with Myanmar: The benefits and challenges of FMR along India-Myanmar border], Observer Research Foundation, 8 January 2024.{{Cite web |last=Baruah |first=Sukrita |date=Jan 16, 2024 |title=States, civil society restive as Centre plans to scrap Free Movement Regime with Myanmar |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/centre-plans-to-scrap-free-movement-regime-with-myanmar-9111902/ |access-date=Feb 2, 2024 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Border
=Description=
The trijunction of India, China and Myanmar is not yet agreed among the three nations. The de facto tripoint is located just north of the Diphu Pass in Kibithu sector.{{cite web |title=International Boundary Study No. 80 Burma – India Boundary |url=https://fall.law.fsu.edu/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS080.pdf |publisher=US Department of State |date=15 May 1968 |access-date=22 September 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131143245/https://fall.law.fsu.edu/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS080.pdf |url-status=live }} From here the border proceeds to the south-west through the Mishmi Hills, except for an Indian protrusion at the Chaukan Pass entailing Vijaynagar valley, then continuing through the Patkai and Kassom Ranges. At the south-east corner of Manipur it turns sharply westwards along various rivers for a period over to the Tiau River. It then follows this river southwards for a long stretch down to the Chin Hills, before turning west and proceeding to the Bangladeshi tripoint via a series of irregular lines.
=Barrier=
{{see also | Borders_of_India#Barriers | l1= India's border barriers with neighbouring countries}}
The India–Myanmar barrier, a border barrier along {{convert|1,624|km|mi|adj=on}}-long border under-construction by India, aims to seal the border, curtail cross-border crime, including goods, arms and counterfeit currency smuggling, drug trafficking,{{Cite web |title=Challenges To India's National Security: The Illicit Flow Of Drugs From Myanmar To India-Pre And Post Myanmar Coup Of 2021 – CENJOWS |url=https://cenjows.in/challenges-to-indias-national-security-the-illicit-flow-of-drugs-from-myanmar-to-india-pre-and-post-myanmar-coup-of-2021/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=cenjows.in}} and insurgency.{{Cite web |title=India-Myanmar border: Escalating human trafficking concerns |url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-myanmar-border |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=orfonline.org |language=en}}{{cite web
|url = http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=350
|title = India's 'Look Myanmar' Policy
|last = Bhonsle
|first = Col. Rahul K.
|date = July 28, 2007
|publisher = Boloji.com
|access-date = 2007-10-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120728164600/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=350
|archive-date = July 28, 2012
|url-status = dead
}} Four Northeast Indian states share the border with Myanmar, i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur. Both national governments agreed to conduct a joint survey before erecting the fence. The Indian Home Ministry and its Myanmar counterpart completed the study within six months and in March 2003 began erecting a fence along the border.{{cite web
|url= http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/BNI2004-10-15b.htm
|last= Khaund
|first= Surajit
|title= India-Burma border fencing delays due to protest by local communities
|date= 15 October 2004
|publisher= Burma News International
|access-date= 2007-10-10
|archive-date= 2018-12-25
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181225051727/http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/BNI2004-10-15b.htm%0A
|url-status= live
}} In 2024, India approved {{INRConvert|30000|c|lk=on|year=2024}} for the construction of border fence along the Myanmar border.[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-sanctions-31000-crore-to-fence-myanmar-border/article68655939.ece Government sanctions ₹31,000 crore to fence Myanmar border], The Hindu, 16 Sept 2024. Of the total, {{convert|1,624|km|mi|adj=on}} length, only 30 km was fenced by September 2024, remaining was being expedited.
Issues have been raised that many local ethnic communities, such as the Kuki, Naga, Mizo, and Chins whose lands straddle the regions between the two countries, will be divided by this fence. However, the Indian security forces justify the need for the fence by blaming the porous border as a national security threat. For example, during two year period between 2001-2003 alone 200 security personnel and civilians died in the militancy-related violence in the region,{{cite web
|url= http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archives/2003-05/msg00018.html
|title= India, Burma to fence the border
|date= May 17, 2003
|publisher= Mizzima News
|access-date= 2007-10-10
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130129222159/http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archives/2003-05/msg00018.html
|archive-date= January 29, 2013
|url-status= dead
}} and in 2007 a violent boundary dispute arose among the locals regarding the ownership of nine border pillars in Manipur.{{cite web
|url=https://www.indoburmanews.net/archives-1/2007/september/new-effort-india-myanmar-to-begin-talks
|title=New effort: India-Myanmar to begin talks
|date=September 2, 2007
|publisher=Times of India
|access-date=2007-10-10
|archive-date=2018-12-25
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225045950/https://www.indoburmanews.net/archives-1/2007/september/new-effort-india-myanmar-to-begin-talks%20%20
|url-status=live
}} India has similar fence on borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1643-km-indo-myanmar-border-to-be-fenced-a-patrol-track-to-be-built-amit-shah-101707231177832.html 1643 km Indo-Myanmar border to be fenced, a patrol track to be built: Amit Shah], Hindustan Times, 6 Feb 2024.
=Border crossings=
=Border force=
{{anchor | Force }}
The Indo-Myanmar Border Force (IMBF) is a proposed and soon-to-be-composed{{when|date=September 2020}} force of 29 battalions - 25 battalions from Assam Rifles and 4 battalions from Indo-Tibetan Border Police - to guard the {{convert|1,643|km|adj=on}} long Indo-Myanmar border. IMBF will remain under ITBP and will patrol the border to the zero line (as of January 2018).[http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/home-ministry-looks-to-form-29-battalion-indo-myanmar-border-force/story-iImWizVCRAtDYGIonj2OML.html Home ministry looks to form 29-battalion Indo-Myanmar border force] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109013141/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/home-ministry-looks-to-form-29-battalion-indo-myanmar-border-force/story-iImWizVCRAtDYGIonj2OML.html |date=2020-11-09 }}, Hindustan Times, 18 Jan 2018.
=Border markets =
Maritime boundaries
{{ anchor | Maritime | EEZ }}
{{ see also | Exclusive economic zone of India | Exclusive economic zone of Myanmar}}
India and Myanmar have maritime exclusive economic zones in each other's vicinity. Landfall Island, India's northernmost Island in Andaman and Nicobar is {{Convert|40|km}} south of Coco Islands belonging to Myanmar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Andaman+and+Nicobar+Command|title=Andaman and Nicobar Command – Google Search|website=www.google.com|language=en|access-date=27 December 2017}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Borders of India}}
{{Borders of Myanmar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Myanmar border}}