India moots joint panel with Myanmar to settle border issue

Denying reports of intrusion by the Myanmar army in Manipur, India Wednesday said it has suggested to Myanmar to hold a joint border working group between the two countries to resolve the issue of a portion of their undemarcated border in the state.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin also said that the Assam Rifles is in touch with the Myanmar army over some construction activity by Myanmar on its side of the undemarcated border near pillar 76 in Moreh in Manipur.

He said that an area near border pillar 76 is undemarcated and "there has been some activity on the Myanmar side of the border".

Both sides have an "understanding that there would not be any construction very near the undemarcated border and that has been the issue there. So it is not an intrusion or incursion, it is on their side of the border", he said.

India's mission in Myanmar has also taken up the issue and suggested that there should be a joint border working group to resolve this issue of the undemarcated portion of border, he added.

He said India is confident of resolving the issue "given the close bilateral relations which we have with Myanmar".