Reports claiming that India has signed a secret agreement with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) for rare earth mining in Myanmar have sparked controversy, but the Indian Embassy in Myanmar has dismissed the claims as “fabricated disinformation.”
According to reports, India is allegedly constructing a 365-km road from Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh to Chipwi Township in Kachin State to access minerals, while the KIA would receive arms, medicines, and logistical support. Analysts also cited a possible second corridor connecting Laiza to Rihkhawdar town in Chin State, allegedly funded through Myanmar’s illegal logging networks.
Myanmar officials condemned the alleged deal, calling it a violation of international law and warning that unauthorized activities could provoke military action. The Indian Embassy, however, rejected the reports, stating such claims aim to damage bilateral relations and noting that projects like the Kaladan and Tripartite road corridors are still under development.
The controversy highlights sensitivities surrounding border regions and resource access, even as both governments maintain that existing development projects remain the focus of cross-border cooperation.