Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma stated that his government supports the Centre’s decision to reimpose the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in the state to regulate cross-border movement due to security concerns. He highlighted that Mizoram is misused as a transit route for foreigners traveling to Myanmar, raising alarms for the Centre. Lalduhoma noted nearly 2,000 foreigners visited Mizoram last year, with some allegedly receiving military training in Myanmar. While initially opposing the PAP, the government recognized its necessity. The Ministry of Home Affairs has reinstated the PAP after 13 years, tightening border movement to combat issues like smuggling and crime.
Aizawl:
The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, stated on Monday that his administration does not oppose the Centre’s decision to reinstate the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in the state, which regulates movement across the India-Myanmar border due to security concerns.
He mentioned that Mizoram is being covertly utilized as a transit point by foreigners heading to Myanmar, raising significant apprehensions for the Centre.
During the question hour in the state assembly, Lalduhoma revealed that nearly 2,000 foreigners had visited Mizoram between June and December of the previous year, many of whom did not enter as tourists and exited the state unnoticed.
He accused some foreigners of crossing the Indo-Myanmar border into Chin Hills in the neighboring country to receive military training.
“Given the current geopolitical climate, various nations, including China and the US, are closely monitoring the situation in our neighboring country. This has made Mizoram’s use as a transit route for foreigners a serious concern for the Centre, prompting the reinstatement of the Protected Area Permit in the state,” the chief minister explained to the assembly.
He noted that the Protected Area Permit has been reintroduced in other states that might also serve as transit routes for foreigners heading to Myanmar.
While the Mizoram government initially resisted the decision, it later recognized the necessity of the permit as emphasized by the Centre, he stated.
The entirety of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, along with parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand are categorized as protected areas.
In 2011, the Centre relaxed the PAP for Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to promote tourism, exempting all foreigners except those from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China from the PAP.
This relaxation was subsequently extended for five-year terms, with the most recent order issued in December 2022 and set to remain effective until December 2027.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently reimposed the PAP in Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland to manage the movement of foreigners amid rising security issues related to the influx from neighboring countries.
The MHA informed the chief secretaries of the three northeastern states—Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland—about the decision to reinstate the Protected Area Regime (PAR) or PAP, lifting the relaxation after 13 years.
Lalduhoma expressed that the state government acknowledges the need to restrict movement across the India-Myanmar border and concurs with the Centre on implementing a new protocol to regulate cross-border movement under the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
On December 24 of the previous year, the MHA announced a new protocol that reduced the FMR range from 16 km to 10 km.
According to the new guidelines, individuals crossing the border from India to Myanmar and vice versa will receive a border pass valid for seven days. This pass will be granted to those residing within a 10 km radius on either side of the border, contingent on credential verification confirming their residency within the designated area.
Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously indicated that the FMR would be terminated, an official notification has yet to be released.
Lalduhoma noted that unrestricted movement under the FMR has its drawbacks, resulting in social issues such as rampant drug smuggling, arms trafficking, and various crimes, including murder, which have become major concerns for the state.
While the state government supports free movement among ethnic Mizos from both countries, it acknowledges the need for regulated movement across the India-Myanmar border following the Centre’s decision, he added.