Myanmar junta warns Indian politicians over statements on Chin rebels, Kabaw Valley

In response to reports that a member of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly recently visited Myanmar and urged ethnic Chin armed groups to join India, and that a lawmaker from India’s ruling BJP in the Upper House of Parliament proposed incorporating Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley in Sagaing Region into Manipur, junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun said politicians should refrain from actions driven by self-interest that could harm bilateral relations, The Irrawaddy reported.

The Myanmar junta spokesperson emphasized the need to respect Myanmar’s sovereignty and stated that Myanmar would issue statements and notifications on the matter. The Indian Embassy in Myanmar has yet to comment.

The concerns raised by Myanmar’s military government involve Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram K Vanlalvena, and Manipur’s titular king and Rajya Sabha MP, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba.

Lalduhoma and his administration have been vocal about the unity of the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) community, which spans Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh, citing shared ethnic and religious ties.

In late February 2025, he facilitated an agreement between the Chinland Council and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC), two rival groups in Myanmar, leading to the formation of the Chin National Council. The agreement was signed in Aizawl, Mizoram. Additionally, Lalduhoma has opposed the Indian government’s move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border.

Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram, K Vanlalvena, recently visited several camps of the rebel groups in Chin state of Myanmar. He said that he had invited them to join the Union of India, given that there is no official government in Myanmar, and that there is a shared tribal bond on both sides of the border, according to The Hindu.

The junta spokesperson’s remarks regarding Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba followed the MP’s speech during the Parliament Budget Session 2025, where he spoke about the historical significance of the Kabaw Valley. Leishemba described the valley as “a resource-rich and fertile landmass spanning approximately 22,210 square kilometers was historically part of the Manipur Kingdom” until it was handed over to Burma in 1953 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The BJP MP claimed that the decision was made without the approval of the Indian Parliament or the endorsement of the Manipur state, calling it “the most unfortunate day in the history of Manipur.” Maharaja Sanajaoba maintained that Nehru’s decision disregarded the terms of the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826) and the Kabaw Valley Agreements of 1834. (With inputs from multiple agencies)

MT