India to work with Myanmar to resolve border row

India has proposed to set up a joint working group with Myanmar to decide on a short stretch of un-demarcated border after the armed forces of the neighbouring country recently made an attempt to set up a camp in a village in the northeastern state of Manipur. 

“Through our mission in Myanmar, we have made a suggestion that a joint border working group should be set up to resolve this issue of the un-demarcated portion of border near Border Pillar 76,” Syed Akbaruddin, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Wednesday. 

He said New Delhi’s envoy to Naypyidaw, Gautam Mukhopadhyay, has already approached the Myanmar government with the proposal to set up the joint working group.  He declined to refer the incident at Holenphai village near Moreh in Manipur as an intrusion. 

“We have been informed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees that part of our border, that there has not been any intrusion,” said Akbaruddin.

India and Myanmar had an understanding that no side would take up any construction work near the un-demarcated stretch of the border.  The Myanmar Army, however, of late started works to set up a camp near Holenphai village of Manipur, triggering protests fromundervalu state government officials.  

“I understand that Assam Rifles, which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is already in touch with the Myanmar army,” said the MEA spokesperson. 

Local officials of Manipur government, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Moreh, Robert Singh Kshetrimayum, reached Holenphai on August 22 last after the villagers reported that the soldiers of the Myanmar army’s 87 Light Infantry were clearing the ground near the Border Pillar 76.