Indian Army personnel keep up vigil along the Indo-Myanmar international border. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Amid the recent arrest of seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainians and a U.S. citizen, who allegedly had illegally crossed into Myanmar via Mizoram to train armed ethnic groups in weapons handling and drone operations, data show that 43 km of the total 1,643 km border with Myanmar has been fenced so far. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused the foreigners of importing drones from Europe to Myanmar via India for the use of ethnically armed groups (EAGs) in Myanmar. The government recently informed a parliamentary panel that to check illegal migration, trafficking and insurgent activities along the Myanmar border, “coordination with local communities, Myanmar Army and associated security agencies is maintained” and a “joint counter-drone mechanism with monthly reporting has also been instituted”. The fencing project, which includes installation of gates that record biometrics and photographs of people who cross the border, has faced resistance from residents of border States as people on either side share deep ethnic, social and cultural ties.
Published: March 19, 2026 5:42 pm
Source: The Hindu — Read original