India issues advisory against travelling to Myanmar’s Rakhine state amid escalating crisis

Amid the escalating tensions in Myanmar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a directive, urging Indian citizens to refrain from travelling to the Rakhine state. If reports are to go by, the MEA advised Indians currently residing in the Rakhine state to also evacuate the area as soon as they can. In an official release, the MEA highlighted the deteriorating security situation, disruptions in telecommunications, including landlines, and a severe scarcity of essential commodities as key factors prompting the advisory. The statement stressed the critical need for Indian citizens to avoid travel to the Rakhine state and advised immediate departure of those already present, considering the challenging conditions prevailing on the ground. The advisory from the MEA regarding the Rakhine state aligns with India's broader strategic move to strengthen border security, especially in the wake of the escalating tensions in Myanmar. The country has been grappling with widespread protests demanding the restoration of democracy since the military coup on February 1, 2021. Notably, the Rakhine state, along with several other regions, has witnessed intense clashes between armed ethnic groups and the ruling junta since October of the preceding year. The heightened hostilities have raised concerns in New Delhi, particularly regarding the security of Manipur and Mizoram. With the Myanmarese military resorting to airstrikes against opposition forces, the situation remains grim, prompting India to take proactive measures to safeguard its citizens and secure the border region.