The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that discussions are continuing on some unsettled sectors of the India-Myanmar border, adding to speculation over a possible limited territory adjustment along the Manipur frontier.
When asked whether New Delhi is considering an exchange of territory with Myanmar, an MEA spokesperson said, “There are certain areas on the border which are yet to be settled. Discussions on those sectors are ongoing.”
The statement has renewed attention on a section of the border in Manipur’s Chandel district, next to Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley in the Sagaing Region. Local accounts and informed assessments in Imphal and New Delhi suggest that a limited adjustment, possibly involving around 1.4 square miles, may be under discussion as part of efforts to complete the boundary demarcation between border pillars 65 and 68.
India and Myanmar formally agreed on their boundary in 1967. However, several sections in Manipur remain unresolved. The main disputed areas are between pillars 64 and 68 at Molcham, 75 and 79 near Moreh, and 88 and 95 at Choro Khunou. State-level committees formed in Manipur in 2000 did not reach lasting recommendations. Over the years, reports from villagers in Kamjong and Tengnoupal districts about obstruction by Myanmar-side personnel, along with allegations that border pillars had been shifted, have kept the issue alive. At the same time, the central government has maintained that there is no formal border dispute, only “unresolved boundary pillars.”
The issue has gained fresh importance because of the ongoing project to build a fence and patrol track along the entire 1,643-kilometre India-Myanmar border. The project is aimed at addressing illegal immigration, smuggling, and the movement of armed groups. Manipur shares a 398-kilometre border with Myanmar and incomplete demarcation in some sectors could affect both the fence alignment and daily security operations. Completing the remaining technical work within a reported three-month window would remove a practical hurdle for the project.
The matter is particularly sensitive in Manipur, where ethnic tensions remain strong. Any perception that land is being given away, even if the area is small, could trigger political and social reactions. Civil society groups in the state have earlier warned against any adjustment that appears to favour Myanmar. At the same time, cross-border insurgent networks, refugee movements, and informal trade continue to create challenges for communities living along the border and for security forces. A clearly marked and jointly surveyed boundary could reduce uncertainty and limit opportunities for armed groups and traffickers.
The issue is also important for Myanmar. The military government in Naypyidaw faces its own challenges in the Sagaing Region, and any territorial discussion would have to consider the ongoing conflict and changing local conditions. High-level meetings, including those held during recent visits by Myanmar’s leadership to India, are understood to have discussed the possibility of additional auxiliary pillars and a refined alignment at Molcham. However, neither India nor Myanmar has confirmed whether these discussions have moved beyond technical examination to a formal proposal for a territory exchange.
For New Delhi, resolving the remaining boundary issues would support the construction of a continuous border fence and patrol track while reducing the chances of future disputes. It would also strengthen broader cooperation with Myanmar in areas such as connectivity, energy, and counter-insurgency. At the same time, any limited territory adjustment would require careful political handling in Manipur and clear communication with communities living near the affected border pillars.
The MEA’s statement that discussions are ongoing leaves open the possibility of further technical work. Whether the process results in a formal exchange of small parcels of land, the installation of additional auxiliary pillars on an agreed alignment or a joint survey to clarify existing claims remains uncertain.
What is already clear is that the India-Myanmar border in the Northeast has become an important policy issue. The urgency of border fencing, unresolved pillar locations and the region’s complex ethnic and security situation have brought renewed attention to a decades-old boundary matter. The outcome of discussions over the remaining sections in Chandel will be watched by both governments, as well as by the communities living along the border.
