Article Title: Should the Free Movement regime between India and Myanmar remain
28-03-2025
International Relations Prelims Plus
Context
In February 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border would be scrapped but there has neither been any notification by the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard nor any bilateral agreement with Myanmar so far
Free Movement Regime (FMR)
• The FMR came into existence in 1968 as people on either side of the border have familial and ethnic ties. The territorial limit of free movement then was 40 km, which was reduced to 16 km in 2004, and additional regulations were enforced in 2016.
• Individuals residing at the border need a one-year border pass for stays lasting up to two weeks in the neighbouring country.
• It aimed to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for border residents, and strengthen diplomatic ties.
Security Concerns:
• Increased Infiltration: Concerns have arisen about the influx of illegal immigrants, particularly the Chin, Naga communities and Rohingyas from Myanmar, potentially straining resources and impacting local demographics.
• Drug Trafficking and Arms Smuggling: The porous border facilitates the illegal movement of drugs and weapons, posing a threat to internal security to India and fuelling crime.
• Insurgency Activities: The FMR has been misused by insurgent groups operating in northeastern India, allowing them to cross the border easily and evade capture.
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