A country without borders is not a country. The very heart of being a sovereign nation is providing security of one’s borders, of one’s internal situation, and security against anyone attacking one’s nation. That is the very heart of what we believe is sovereignty Every officer and a soldier in Assam Rifles knows all about it!
-When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will Who better than DG Assam Rifles Lt General Vikas Lakhera
-Borders are scratched across the hearts of men / By strangers with a calm, judicial pen, / And when the borders bleed we watch with dread / The lines of ink across the map turn red…….that is what the people think!
-The only true borders lie between day and night, between life and death, between hope and loss……….This is the practicality of life!
-One World is not abolishing frontiers, which would lead to a surge in migration, create tension and destabilize life on our planet. One World is rather abolishing the concept of borders in people’s minds and replacing devotion to individual nations with belief in one united world, home to one race!……….We think everyone would agree to this!
-As part of the AssamRifles Inspector General’s Conference 2025, the Director General Assam Rifles, alongwith all Inspectors General, released the Second Edition of Indo–Myanmar Border Management 2025 at Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles Laitkor, Shillong.
-This comprehensive publication highlights Assam Rifles continued commitment towards effective border management, strategic cooperation and fostering peace and stability along the Indo–Myanmar border.
-The “first edition” of the Indo-Myanmar Border Management conference was not the correct term; instead, the Assam Rifles launched the second edition of the Indo-Myanmar Border Management publication in 2025 during the Inspector General’s Conference in Shillong.
-This publication details strategies and initiatives for border management, focusing on operational practices, coordination, and community engagement along the frontier. This event followed the Inspector General’s Conference 2025, which also emphasized border security and modernization efforts along the volatile Indo-Myanmar border.
-What happened: The second edition of the Indo-Myanmar Border Management 2025 publication was launched by the Assam Rifles at the IG’s Conference 2025 in Shillong.
-Purpose: The publication outlines strategies and initiatives to improve border management, enhance security, and maintain peace along the Indo-Myanmar border.
-Key focus areas: Discussions and the publication cover operational best practices, coordination mechanisms, and engaging with local communities.
-Broader context: The launch was part of a larger conference focused on enhancing security, modernization, and operational readiness for the Assam Rifles, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar border.
-The India-Myanmar border is a 1,643 km long international land border shared between four Indian states and several Myanmar regions. It runs through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, and is a focus of security concerns and plans for fencing. India and Myanmar share ethnic and cultural ties, which have been historically facilitated by a Free Movement Regime (FMR), though the FMR’s future is under review.
-Border length and states involved:
-Total length: 1,643 kilometers
-Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram
-Myanmar regions: Chin State and Sagaing Region
-Distribution:
-Arunachal Pradesh: 520 km
-Nagaland: 215 km
-Manipur: 398 km
– Mizoram: 510 km
-Security and management:
-Border security: The border is guarded by the Assam Rifles, who are responsible for security, patrols, and issuing border passes.
-Fencing: India has announced plans to fence the entire border to enhance security, and pilot projects using technology like hybrid surveillance systems are underway.
-Free Movement Regime (FMR): This was introduced to facilitate movement for communities on both sides of the border, but its validity has been reduced and the government has announced it will be scrapped.
-Bilateral cooperation: India and Myanmar have institutional mechanisms for consultation, including Foreign Office Consultations.
A small story to start the second half:
Once upon a time there were two countries at war with each other. In order to make peace after many years of conflict, they decided to build a bridge across the ocean.
But because they never learned each other’s language properly, they could never agree on the details, so the two halves of the bridge they started to build never met. To this day the bridge extends far into the ocean from both sides, and simply ends half way, miles in the wrong direction from the meeting point. And the two countries are still at war.”!
The Indo-Myanmar border is crucial for strategic, economic, and security reasons, serving as a gateway for India to Southeast Asia, a partner in regional security, and a site for important connectivity projects. It is vital for both countries to manage border security challenges like insurgency and illegal migration, and it holds economic significance through trade and cooperation in areas like energy.
-Strategic importance:Gateway to Southeast Asia: The border is a crucial land bridge, facilitating India’s “Act East” policy and engagement with ASEAN nations.
-Regional power balancing: Cooperation with Myanmar helps India counter China’s growing influence in the region, particularly through projects like the development of Sittwe port to rival China’s Kyaukpyu port.
-Maritime security: Myanmar’s coastline on the Bay of Bengal is strategic for India’s maritime security interests and access to Indo-Pacific trade routes.
-Economic importance: Connectivity projects: The border is central to major connectivity initiatives like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Corridor.
-Trade: India is a significant trading partner of Myanmar, with bilateral trade increasing in recent years.
-Energy security: India has invested in Myanmar’s energy sector, which is a key component of its strategy for energy security.
-Security importance: Countering insurgency: Myanmar is an important partner for India in tackling cross-border insurgencies that affect India’s northeastern states.
-Managing illegal immigration: A stable Myanmar is seen as necessary to curb illegal migration, including from groups like the Rohingya, and prevent related security and resource challenges in India’s border states.
-Border management: The porous nature of the border presents ongoing challenges, leading to proposals for increased fencing to better regulate movement and prevent cross-border crimes like smuggling.
Stressing the need to maintain the security of the India-Myanmar border, Assam Rifles Director General Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera has called upon personnel to remain prepared for future contingencies and emerging challenges.
Addressing the Assam Rifles Inspector General’s conference, which concluded at the Directorate General Assam Rifles in Laitkor today, the director general lauded all ranks for ensuring peace and tranquillity in their respective areas of responsibility.
Lt Gen Lakhera also exhorted them to be ever vigilant on the volatile and dynamic environment under which the force operates. The conference was attended by Formation Commanders, Battalion Commanders, and Staff Officers from Headquarters DGAR and Formations. Key discussions were held on enhancing the capability and combat potential of the force, planning for next-generation weapon systems and equipment, sharing best practices among units, and strengthening training and skill development, according to a statement issued by the force.
The director general praised the commanders for maintaining peace and tranquility in their respective areas and urged them to remain vigilant in the volatile and dynamic environment in which the force operates. The conference provided a platform to review operational preparedness, administration and human resource issues.
Every story has to end and these are our final lines: As long as there are countries with borders in this world, nationalism would remain the highest virtue………….MD!
