Myanmar: Arakan Army Takes Control Of Town Bordering India And Bangladesh

In a significant development, the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group in Myanmar's Rakhine state, declared on Sunday (14 January) that it has successfully taken control of Paletwa, a crucial port town along the Kaladan river near the India-Bangladesh border.

This marks another setback for the military junta, currently grappling with multiple insurgencies across the country.

As per reports by Reuters, the Arakan Army's spokesperson, Khine Thu Kha, stated that the group intends to handle administration and law enforcement in the region and emphasised a commitment to cooperating with neighbouring countries on border stability issues.

However, the military junta has not issued a response to the claim, and independent verification of the situation is pending.

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Earlier, the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic minority armed group engaged in conflict with Myanmar's Military Government, announced that they had successfully shot down a helicopter believed to be on a resupply mission.

As per reports by The Hindu, the incident occurred in the combat zone of the northern state of Kachin on 3 January.

Myanmar is currently grappling with a complex insurgency scenario, where anti-junta groups, supported by a pro-democracy parallel government, have seized control of various military posts and towns, posing a significant challenge to the military government that came to power through a coup in 2021.

The situation underscores the ongoing instability in the country and raises concerns about regional security.

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