Kuki Inpi Chandel Opposes Any Territorial Exchange Along India-Myanmar Border

The Kuki Inpi Chandel (KICdl) has strongly opposed any proposal for a territorial exchange or land swap along the undemarcated stretch of the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel district.

In a statement issued in response to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press statement dated August 4, 2026, the Kuki Inpi Chandel expressed concern over reports of ongoing discussions between India and Myanmar concerning the unresolved border stretch between Boundary Pillars 65 and 68 in Chandel district.

The Kuki body said it was particularly opposed to reports of a proposal involving the exchange of approximately 1.4 square miles of territory, arguing that any such decision could have significant consequences for communities living in the border areas.

According to the Kuki Inpi Chandel, several border villages, particularly in the Chakpikarong area adjoining Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley, are ancestral lands of the Kuki people.

The apex Kuki body in Chandel district said decisions concerning border demarcation or territorial adjustments should not be taken without the participation and consent of indigenous communities residing in the affected areas.

“Land is our identity and heritage,” the organisation stated, stressing that the disputed stretch is not merely a matter of territorial administration but is connected to the homes, agricultural land, livelihoods and cultural heritage of local communities.

The Kuki Inpi Chandel also criticised what it described as a lack of consultation with Kuki civil society organisations, village chiefs and residents of Chandel district.

The organisation argued that border demarcation should not be treated solely as a technical or diplomatic exercise, as changes to the boundary could directly affect families and communities living along the border.

The Kuki Inpi categorically rejected any proposal for the reported exchange of approximately 1.4 square miles of territory.

It maintained that the undemarcated stretch, measuring around 2.8 kilometres, has been inhabited by local communities for generations and warned that any alteration to the existing situation could lead to displacement, divide communities and affect the cultural continuity of the border population.

The Kuki Inpi Chandel called on the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to halt what it described as any unilateral process and establish a transparent consultation mechanism involving KICdl, other Kuki civil society organisations and stakeholders in Chandel district.

It also appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and other concerned authorities to protect the rights, history and concerns of communities living along the border during ongoing bilateral discussions between India and Myanmar.

The organisation said it would continue to stand with residents of the border villages and urged the Kuki community and other concerned citizens to remain united and vigilant over developments concerning the border.