India has called on all its citizens in Myanmar’s war-torn Rakhine province to leave the country.
India’s Travel Advisory
In a press release on Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that “all Indian citizens are advised not to travel to the Rakhine State of Myanmar.” It cited “the deteriorating security situation, disruption of means of telecommunications, including landlines, and severe scarcity of essential commodities” as reasons behind the measure.
“Those Indian citizens who are already in Rakhine State are advised to leave the State immediately,” it added.
Violence Escalating in Myanmar
In recent months, conflict has erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and other regions, marked by intense fighting between armed ethnic groups and the ruling junta since October 2023.Violence escalated in November, affecting numerous towns and areas near the India-Myanmar border, which spans 1,640 km and includes northeastern Indian states like Nagaland and Manipur.
Amid escalating tensions in Myanmar, India urges its citizens to refrain from traveling to Rakhine state & immediately depart the area. According to government estimates, around 150,000 Indian nationals reside in Bago (Zeyawaddy & Kuayktaga) and Tanintharyi Region & Mon State. https://t.co/4TVKH8D7Vb
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 6, 2024
The Myanmar military has employed airstrikes against opposition forces, leading to instances of Myanmarese soldiers seeking refuge in India to escape attacks from armed ethnic groups.
Notably, in December and November last year, significant groups of soldiers fled to Mizoram after their camps were targeted by pro-democracy ethnic factions.
India’s Calls for Peace
Notably, this is not the first time that India has raised concerns over the situation in its neighbouring country and appealed for a complete cessation of violence. Last week, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are concerned over the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, which has direct implications for us.”
“As a neighbouring country and friend of Myanmar, India has long been advocating for a complete cessation of violence and Myanmar's transition towards inclusive federal democracy,” he added.