AIZAWL: To train militants in the neighboring country with weapons, foreign mercenaries, notably those from the United States and the United Kingdom, entered Myanmar through Mizoram. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma informed this to the state assembly on Monday.
"We have specific intelligence that the Ukraine war veterans traveled to Myanmar's Chin State via Mizoram to train rebel outfits fighting the military junta," CM Lalduhoma told the Assembly on Monday, March 10.
CM Lalduhoma in the Assembly revealed that nearly 2,000 foreigners visited Aizawl between June and December last year. According to him, there are major security issues because many of these visitors did not enter the state as tourists and departed unnoticed.
CM Lalduhoma in the Assembly stated that the situation in Myanmar has drawn attention from several countries, including China and the US. This development has made Mizoram's use as a transit route by foreigners a major concern for the central government, prompting the reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in the state.
In 2011, the Centre had relaxed the PAP requirements in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram to boost tourism.
The relaxation allowed all foreigners, except those from Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, to enter these states without a PAP. This relaxation was extended every five years, with the latest order issued in December 2022, which was valid until December 2027.
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