Following the recent announcement to construct a fence along the 1,643-km-long Myanmar border for enhanced surveillance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed on Thursday that the Centre has decided to terminate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. This move aims to bolster the internal security of the nation and safeguard the demographic integrity of India”s northeastern states bordering Myanmar.

Shah emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s dedication to securing the borders in a statement on X: “It is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders. The MHA has decided that the FMR between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR.”

In September 2023, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh urged the central government to permanently dissolve the FMR along the India-Myanmar border to combat illegal immigration. Singh also revealed the state”s initiatives towards implementing a National Register of Citizens and fortifying the border with Myanmar, especially in the approximately 390 km porous stretch shared with Manipur, with only 10 km currently fenced. The border between India and Myanmar traverses four states — Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

What Is FMR?

The FMR is a bilateral agreement allowing tribes residing within 16 km on either side of the border to travel visa-free up to 16 km into the other country. Each border pass under this regime entitles a two-week stay, fostering cultural and economic exchanges between border communities.

Originally instituted to promote seamless migration for tribes along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB), the FMR lapsed into inactivity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was officially halted by India in September 2022 following the military coup in Myanmar and ensuing refugee crises.

Why Is India Scrapping FMR?

The decision to scrap the FMR is driven by concerns regarding its reported exploitation by militants and trans-border criminals for weapon smuggling, counterfeit currency circulation, and evading law enforcement. Heightened tensions in Manipur, exacerbated by ethnic conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei communities, have further fueled the imperative to revoke the regime.