India and Myanmar's free movement agreement was terminated: Amit Shah

India and Myanmar's free movement agreement was terminated: Amit Shah

India and Myanmar's free movement agreement was terminated: Amit Shah

The Home Ministry has determined that the demographic makeup of India's northeastern states and internal security concerns warrant the termination of the Free Movement Arrangement (FMR) between India as well as Myanmar.

On February 8, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the Free Movement Arrangement (FMR) between India as well as Myanmar will be terminated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Shah described it as PM Modi's determination to protect our borders and said that the decision was made to preserve the demographic makeup of India's northeastern states that border Myanmar as well as to guarantee the nation's internal security.

"Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the technique of dismantling it, MHA suggested the immediate suspension of the FMR," Shah said on Twitter.

FMR permits those residing near the border between India and Myanmar to enter each other's countries for up to 16 kilometers without a document. The declaration was made barely two days after Shah said that India has made the decision to fence the whole 1,643 km border between India and Myanmar.