Unfenced border with Myanmar in focus after arrest of 7 foreigners

20 MARCH 2026

Recently seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainians and a U.S. citizen, were arrested in India by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly crossed illegally 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; while 346.64 km is currently under construction.
India and Myanmar share an unfenced border and have a unique arrangement called the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
While Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in February 2024 that the FMR was being scrapped, it was only regulated and free movement of people — without visas and passports on either side of the unfenced border — was restricted to 10 km from the earlier 16 km.
The fencing project, which includes installation of gates that record biometrics and photographs of people who cross the border, has faced resistance as people on either side share deep ethnic, social and cultural ties.
As many as 43 designated exit and entry gates were proposed to regulate the movement of people and biometrics and gate passes were introduced.
However, over the past two years, the number of gates has declined to 38 and only 20 are now functional, a government source said.