IMPHAL, Aug. 7: Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh on Thursday declined to comment on reports that India and Myanmar are discussing a possible territorial exchange to resolve an undemarcated section of the international border along Manipur.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day consultative meeting-cum-seminar on The Demographic Profile of Manipur organised by the Home Department, the minister was asked about reports of ongoing India-Myanmar border negotiations and concerns over demographic changes in the state.
Govindas Singh refrained from commenting on the issue, saying the government would respond at an appropriate time.
“I request you to wait for some time. We will give a detailed response at the appropriate time,” he said.
His remarks came days after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that India and Myanmar are holding discussions to settle unresolved stretches of their shared border.
During a press briefing in New Delhi on August 4, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said certain sections of the India-Myanmar border remain undemarcated and bilateral discussions are underway to resolve the pending boundary issues.
Although the MEA did not confirm reports of a proposed territorial exchange, its clarification followed media reports claiming that New Delhi was examining a proposal to demarcate a 2.8-km undemarcated stretch between Boundary Pillars 65 and 68 along the Manipur-Myanmar border.
The India-Myanmar border extends for more than 1,600 km across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, with a few stretches still awaiting final demarcation through bilateral negotiations.
