Meeting on FMR, Myanmar border fencing inconclusive

A meeting between a Manipur Naga delegation and Central government officials on the India-Myanmar border fencing and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) ended inconclusively in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 26, 2025).

The 11-member team comprising leaders from the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women’s Union, and All-Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, was invited by the Centre. The Central team was led by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (Northeast) to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

“The meeting was inconclusive. We demanded the reinstatement of the FMR and an immediate halt to the India-Myanmar border fencing work, but they justified both. We will go back to our people and decide the future course of action,” a member of the Naga delegation stated.

During the meeting, the Manipur delegation pointed out that the border needed to be corrected before fencing, as the traditional boundary of the Naga-inhabited areas extends up to the Chindwin river in Myanmar. The Nagas have a sizeable population across the border, particularly in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division.

“The Central government officials said border fencing is an issue of national security, while we said the Government of India’s decisions to scrap the FMR and erect the fence were against the spirit of the Indo-Naga peace talks,” the Naga leader said.

In a memorandum submitted to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla earlier, the UNC said Nagas inhabiting large swathes on either side of the India-Myanmar shared ethnic and familial ties.

“These bonds predate the colonial demarcation of boundaries and are integral to our identity, traditions, and way of life. As such, abrupt abrogation of FMR and construction of physical border fencing… has adversely impacted and disrupted the natural flow of community and familial interdependent relationship…” the memorandum read.

Brought into place in 1968, the FMR initially allowed transboundary movement of residents within 40 km from the boundary line on either side. It was reduced to 16 km in 2004, and additional regulations were enforced more than a decade later. The territorial limit was reduced to 10 km a few months ago.