IBS No. 80 - Burma (BM) & India (IN) 1968

International Boundary Study

No. 80 – May 15, 1968

Burma – India

Boundary

(Country Codes: BM-IN)

The Geographer

Office of the Geographer

Bureau of Intelligence and Research

The Geographer

Office of Strategic and Functional Research

Bureau of Intelligence and Research

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY STUDY

No. 80

BURMA - INDIA BOUNDARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. The Background.......................................................... 2

II. Alignment...................................................................... 2

III. Treaties and Other Acts............................................. 6

A. Treaty of Peace…signed at Yandaboo,

February 24, 1826 (Aitcheson, C.U.,

A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and

Sanads…, vol. XII, Calcutta, 1931.......................... 6

B. Agreement regarding the Kubo Valley,

negotiated at Sunnyachil Ghat January 9, 1834 ... 6

C. Government of India Act, 1935 (25 and 26

GEO. 5. Chap 42) .................................................... 7

D. Boundary Agreement between the Government

of the Republic of India and the Government

of the Union of Burma, signed at Rangoon on

March 10, 1967 ........................................................ 7

V. Summary ....................................................................... 8

Page 2

BURMA - INDIA BOUNDARY

I. THE BACKGROUND

The Burma - India Boundary has been delimited in great detail by a bilateral treaty signed

on March 10, 1967, and ratified shortly thereafter. Demarcation will be the subject of a

separate agreement to be negotiated in the near future. The 1967 boundary follows the

"traditional" line between the two states while rendering with precision two formerly

indefinite areas.

Almost 60 percent of the 872-mile long boundary follows water divides, both major and

minor, while nearly one-third coincides with median lines of frontier streams and rivers.

The remainder of the border comprises straight line between previously established

boundary pillars.

The frontier area topography varies from low mountains in the south to high ridges and

peaks in the north, adjacent to the Himalaya. As a result, the region is one of low

population density and of reduced economic development.

II. ALIGNMENT

The 1967 Boundary Agreement delimited the Burma - India boundary as follows:

The southern extremity of the India - Burma boundary is about 1/2 mile south of the

triangulation station Reng Tlang. From this point the boundary runs in general

northeasterly direction along the divide separating the waters of the Tuichong from

those of the Kola Chaung or Sekul Lui to a point just west of the source of a

nameless feeder of the Varang Lui; thence in an easterly direction down the

midstream of this nameless feeder to its junction with the Varang Lui; thence down

the midstream of the Varang Lui to its junction with the Kola Chaung or Sekul Lui;

thence up the midstream of the Kola Chaung or Sekul Lui to its junction with the

Zocha Lui; thence up the midstream of the Zocha Lui to its source on the Samang

Range; thence across the range to the source of the Samak or Kwiman Lui; thence

down the midstream of the Samak or Kwiman Lui to the Kaladan River; thence

across the Kaladan river to the mouth of the Khangza Lui and up the midstream of

the Khangza Lui to its source in the Kaisi Tlang range; thence southwards along the

range of the Kaisi Tlang to the source of the Rale (Shweleik) Lui; thence down the

midstream of the Rale (Shweleik) Lui to its junction with the Sala Lui; thence up the

midstream of the Sala Lui to its junction with the Khenkhong (Kaikheu) Lui; thence

up the midstream of the Khenkhong (Kaikheu) Lui to a point on the Pathian Klang

range approximately 700 yards north of height 4146; thence generally northwards

along this range to the source of the Para Lui and down the midstream of the Para

Lui to its junction with the Tisi Va or Mi Chaung; thence up the midstream of this

river to its junction with the Kimung Va or Kheimu Lui; thence up the midstream of

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the Kimung Va or Kheimu Lui to its source in the Kashia Klang; thence generally

southwards along the crest of the Kashia Klang to the source of the Raphu Va;

thence down the midstream of the Raphu Va to its junction with the Boinu or Tuipui

river; thence down the midstream of the Boinu or Tuipui river to its junction with the

Tyao or Tio Va River; thence up the midstream of the Tyao or Tio Va river to its

source on a saddle marked by Boundary Pillar No. 3 L/CH;

thence across that

saddle to the source of the Bapi Va and down the midstream of the Bapi Va to its

junction with the Timang Va or Tuimang river; thence down the midstream of the

Timang Va or Tuimang river to its junction with the Tuisa river; thence down the

midstream of the Tuisa river to its junction with the Tuivai river; thence up the

midstream of the Tuivai river to its junction with the Tuikui stream; thence up the

midstream of the Tuikui stream to its source below Boundary Pillar No. 8 situated on

a saddle about 4-1/2 miles east of Lunglen Hill. From Boundary Pillar No. 8 the

boundary runs down the midstream of a nameless feeder of the Tuimong Lui to its

junction with the Tuimong Lui; thence down midstream of the Tuimong Lui to its

junction with the Tuivel river; thence up the midstream of the Tuivel river to its

junction with the Tuinuam Lui; thence up the midstream of the Tuinuam Lui to a

saddle where Boundary Pillar No. 7 is located; thence down the midstream of

Paiphum Lui; thence up a ridge; thence eastwards down the ridge to the midstream

of a nameless stream to its junction with the Tuival Lui and thence down the

midstream of the Tuival Lui to its junction with the Sumtui Lui; thence up the

midstream of the Sumtui Lui to its source on Leng Tang range where Boundary

Pillar No. 6 is located; thence in an easterly direction down to a nameless feeder of

the (Tuita) Tuitha or (Kuga) Khuga river; thence down the midstream of this feeder to

its junction with the (Tuita) Tuitha or (Kuga) Khuga river; thence up the midstream to

the (Tuita) Tuitha or (Kuga) Khuga river to its junction with the Chalao Lam or Chika

stream; thence along the midstream of this stream up a ravine to Boundary Pillar

No. 5; thence down the midstream of the Yangkai Lok to its junction with the Manipur

river; thence northwards up the left bank of the Manipur river to its junction with the

Yangdung Lui; thence up the midstream of this stream to its source marked by

Boundary Pillar No. 3; thence generally northeastwards to height 7582; thence

generally eastwards along the watershed between the tributaries of the Manipur

River on the one hand and the tributaries of the Chindwin River on the other hand to

the source of the Khengyoi Dung and marked by Boundary Pillars 2 and 1; thence

down the midstream of the Khengyoi Dung and the Tuisa Dung to Boundary Pillar

No. 39 on the left bank of the Tuisa Dung; thence generally eastwards for

approximately 400 yards along the left bank of the Tuisa Dung; thence northwards

up the midstream of a nameless feeder to Boundary Pillar No. 38

on Nat Taung

Hill; thence generally northwards down the slope of the hill to a ravine; thence

generally eastwards along the bed of the stream to where Boundary Pillar No. 37 is

located; thence in a general northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 36 and thence

in the same direction to Boundary Pillar No. 35 located on the right bank of the

See Survey of India Quarter-Inch sheet 84E.

See Survey of India - one-inch Sheet 84 I/1 and Quarter-inch Sheets 83C and 83L.

Page 4

Auktaung Chaung; thence down the midstream of the Auktaung Chaung to

Boundary Pillar No. 34 on the left bank of the Auktaung Chaung; thence in a

northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 33 located on the left bank of the Tiwan

Lam or Tuiwang Dung thence in a north-northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar

No. 32 located on the right bank of the Tiddim Dung or Naneka Chaung; thence in a

north-northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 31; thence in a north

northwesterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 30; thence in a northeasterly direction

to Boundary Pillar No. 29 located on the left bank of the Rangkep Lok thence down

the midstream of the same stream for a distance of approximately 1 mile to

Boundary Pillar No. 28 also located on the left bank of the Rangkep Lok; thence in a

north-easterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 27; thence in a northerly direction to

Boundary Pillar No. 26 located about 500 yards from the right bank of the Pantha

Chaung; thence in a northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 25 located on the left

bank of the Nanpalaung Chaung; thence in a northeasterly direction to Boundary

Pillar No. 24 located about 400 yards from the left bank of the Chaungngyinaung

Chaung; thence in a northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 23 located on the right

bank of the Lokchao River or Chaunggyi Chaung; thence down the midstream of

this river for about a mile to Boundary Pillar No. 22; thence in a north-northeasterly

direction to Boundary Pillar No. 21; thence in the same direction to Boundary Pillar

No. 20 located on the right bank of a tributary of the Chaunggyi Chaung; thence in

the same direction to Boundary Pillar No. 19 located approximately 1 mile

southeast of Laiching peak trigonometrical station; thence in a northerly direction to

Boundary Pillar No. 18 located on the right bank of the Namjet Lok; thence in an

easterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 17; thence in a northeasterly direction to

Boundary Pillar No. 16 located about 700 yards from the south bank of the Waksu

Lok or Wetyu Chaung; thence in a northwesterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 15

on the left bank of the Waksu Lok or Wetyu Chaung; thence in a northeasterly

direction to Boundary Pillar No. 14; thence in a northerly direction to Boundary Pillar

No. 13 located about half a mile south of the Tuiyang or Natisin Chaung; thence in a

northwesterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 12 located on the left bank of Tuiyang

or Nantisin Chaung; thence in a northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 11;

thence in a northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 10; located on the right bank of

the Taret River or Nantalet Chaung; thence due east to Boundary Pillar No. 9;

thence in a north-northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 8 located on the right

bank of the Yu river; thence across the Yu river to Boundary Pillar No. 7 which is

located on the left bank of the Yu river opposite Boundary Pillar No. 8; thence in a

northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 6; thence in the same direction to

Boundary Pillar No. 5 which is located almost north of height 1192; thence in a

north-northeasterly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 4 located on height 1226; thence

in a northerly direction to Boundary Pillar No. 3; thence in a north-northwesterly

direction to Boundary Pillar No. 2 located on the right bank of a tributary of the Saga

Chaung; thence in the same direction to Boundary Pillar No. 1 located on the left

bank of the Saga Chaung. Thence in a northeasterly direction for a distance of

approximately 2500 yards; thence in a southeasterly direction for approximately

1100 yards; thence in a northeasterly direction for approximately 700 yards; thence

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in a northerly direction for approximately 1000 yards; thence in a northeasterly

direction for approximately 1200 yards to a point on the right bank of a tributary of

the Nam A-ya; thence down the midstream of this stream for about one mile; thence

in a southeasterly direction for approximately 1000 yards; thence in a northeasterly

direction for approximately 700 yards; thence in an easterly direction for

approximately 1000 yards to a point on the right bank of the Tinaing Chaung; thence

up the midstream of the Tinaing Chaung to its source; thence across the ridge,

where it crosses a track going from Manipur to Burma, thence to the source of the

Pangero or Hpinnge Chaung starting from the north face of the ridge, thence down

the midstream of this chaung to its junction with the Khunou Khong; thence down the

midstream of this stream to its junction with the Sana Lok and thence along the

midstream of the Nam Panga to the point where the main spur of the Kassom range

(Lahinpi Taung) meets this river.

From the above point where the main spur of the Kassom range (Lahinpi Taung)

meets the Nam Panga, the boundary proceeds along this spur generally in a north-

northeasterly direction till it meets the trigonometrical station Mawlashin Taung;

thence generally northwestwards, then northeastwards and then northwards along

the watershed between the Sana Lok in the West and the Nam Panga, Nam Tagin,

Nam Mawnghkam and Nam Hka streams in the east, passing through

trigonometrical station Thyoliching (Kan pal Mol) and peak Hting Hting Bum

(Kassom) to trigonometrical station Hkacha Bum; thence in a general northwesterly

direction along the same watershed to trigonometrical station Hyakam Bum; thence

in a general northwesterly direction along the watershed between the Tuikang

stream and the Tizu river in the west and the Nam Hka and the Nam We or

Shwezalon Chaung in the east to height 7870; thence in a general north-

northeasterly direction along the same watershed to a point approximately 1000

yards southeast of height 8256; thence in a general northeasterly direction to Peak

Mol Len (Kasulum Bum); thence generally southeastwards, then eastwards and then

northeastwards along the same watershed to peak Dazipfu (Shiloi Mol); thence

down the midstream of the Petamtsi Ti to its junction with the Ti-Ho or Nantaleik or

Tizu river; thence up the midstream of this river for about two miles to its junction

with a nameless tributary of the Ti-Ho or Nantaleik or Tizu river flowing from the

northeast; thence up the midstream of this nameless tributary to its source near

peak Chaku Mol; thence in a northeasterly direction along the watershed between

the Ti-Ho or Nantaleik or Tizu river and the Zungki river in the west and the Chilachi

Chaung, a tributary of the Latnyu He or Nantaleik or Sawmalin Chaung, the Kundwin

He-mu or Mya Chaung, and the Nam Salein or Charing Hka in the east to peak

Saramati (Nwemauktaung or Kaiwanyu Kyein); thence in a general northerly

direction along the same watershed to height 10003; thence in a general

northeasterly direction along the same watershed passing through peak Mataungse

Kyein to height 11029 thence in a general northwesterly direction along the

watershed between the Chokla Lu, the Langnyu river and the tributaries of the

Brahmaputra River in the west and the tributaries of the Chindwin River in the east

to height 8790; thence in a general northerly direction along the same watershed to

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height 8650; thence in a general northeasterly direction along the same watershed

to height 9840; thence generally northwestwards and then northwards and then

northeastwards along the same watershed which is known as Patkai Range,

passing through trigonometrical station 7912 and 5268 to trigonometrical station

8511; thence generally northeastwards, then northwards, then northeastwards, and

then southeastwards along the same watershed to height 8203; thence in a general

northeasterly direction following the watershed between the Brahmaputra and the

Chindwin river systems along the Patkai Bum, passing through height 8029 and

peak Pungkang to height 7489; thence generally southeastwards along the same

watershed to peak Longsip; thence generally northeastwards along the same

watershed passing through heights 7578, 7041, and 7340 to peak Ranglung Kan;

thence generally eastwards along the same watershed to peak Okhutohap; thence

generally northeastwards along the same watershed passing through heights 6257

and 5959 to trigonometrical station Maium (Patkai Bum); thence generally

northeastwards, then eastwards and then southeastwards following the watershed

between Brahmaputra and the Chindwin river systems along the Patkai Bum to

peak Shawngshan Bum; thence along the watershed between the Irrawaddy and the

Brahmaputra river systems to its northern extremity, the exact location of which

northern extremity will remain provisional pending its final determination.

III. TREATIES AND OTHER ACTS

The 1967 Boundary Agreement is the first act to delimit the entire Burma - India boundary.

However, numerous earlier treaties and acts have affected the alignment of portions of the

boundary and form much of the basis of the new act.

Following hundreds of years of division, a reunited and expansive Burma was established

at the end of the 18th century. After repelling Chinese invaders and overrunning Siam, the

Burmese moved to reestablish their historical suzerainty over certain hill tribes to the west

of the Irrawaddy lowlands, quickly subduing the Shan, Chins and Kachins. Moving further to

the west, the Burmese overran Manipur in 1769 and Arakan in 1784 - 5.

During the same period, the British put down a rebellion in neighboring Assam. However,

following the departure of British forces, chaos returned to this region and, in 1819, the

Burmese intervened. Burma and Britain came face to face in the Brahmaputra valley,

which runs through the middle of Assam.

At the same time, Arakan revolted against Burma and troubles developed across the Naaf

River, which was then - as now - the boundary between Arakan (Burma) and Chittagong

(Pakistan). Eventually, in 1824, these frictions brought on war between Burma and the

East India Company. The conflict lasted for two years, ending with a Treaty of Peace in

1826.

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A. Treaty of Peace…signed at Yandaboo, February 24, 1826 (Aitcheson, C.U., A

Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads…, vol. XII, Calcutta, 1931)

The Treaty of Peace negated Burmese influence in Assam, Cachar, Jaintia and Manipur.

Moreover, it provided that: "…to prevent all future disputes respecting the boundary line

between the two great nations, the British Government will retain the conquered provinces

of Arakan…. The Arakan Mountains…will henceforth form the boundary between the two

great nations on that side. Any doubts regarding the said line of demarcation will be

settled by Commissioners…."

Burma also ceded the province of Tenasserim, thereby restricting Burmese access to the

sea to the Irrawaddy delta area. Difficulties over the boundary of Manipur, however, did not

end with the signing of the treaty.

B. Agreement regarding the Kubo Valley, negotiated at Sunnyachil Ghat January 9,

1834. (ibid., p. 236)

In 1831 the British agreed to return the Kubo (Kabaw) valley to Burma. Commissioners

sent in 1833 negotiated an agreement delimiting the boundary along the foothills of the

ranges to the west of the Kubo. With later refinements, this boundary line has become a

part of the present border. The boundary is referred to as Pemberton Line, named for the

junior British commissioner.

In 1837, the Paktai Range was accepted as the boundary between Assam and Burma,

being delimited without benefit of a treaty after British annexation of Assam, Cachar, and

Jaintia.

Continued friction in Arakan led to the Second Burmese War, in 1852. Although a formal

peace treaty was never signed, Pegu passed to British control, effectively separating

Burma from the sea. Britain then drew a boundary line in the south from the Sittang River

to the fort at Myede.

In 1881, Col. Johnstone resurveyed the Pemberton Line, making it more precise. Burma

did not cooperate with the British in this venture, but ultimately came to accept the revised

line, thereby ending three-quarters of a century of dispute. The larger questions remained

unsettled, however, until 1885. In that year, the Third War led to the final annexation of

Burma into the Indian realm. There followed a series of internal British acts concerning the

boundary.

In 1894, the Manipur - Chin Hills boundary was demarcated, and in 1896 Col. Maxwell

redemarcated the Pemberton - Johnstone area, placing thirty-eight pillars on the ground.

These are referred to by number in the 1967 agreement. The Lushai Hills - Chin Hills

boundary was demarcated in 1901 with minor alterations in 1921 and 1922.

C. Government of India Act, 1935 (25 and 26 GEO. 5. Chap. 42)

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The Government of India Act separated Burma from India by defining the former as "...all

territories which were immediately before the commencement of Part II of this Act

comprised in India, being territories lying to the east of Bengal, the State of Manipur,

Assam, and tribal areas connected with Assam.…" "Burma shall cease to be a part of

India.…"

After World War II, both Burma and India (as well as Pakistan) gained their independence

from the United Kingdom. No Burma - India boundary was specified in the independence

acts; resolution of the border was left to the newly independent governments.

D. Boundary Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the

Government of the Union of Burma, signed at Rangoon on March 10, 1967.

The full text of the delimitation has been quoted in Section 2 above. The treaty ties

together the many acts and international agreements affected in the 19th and 20th

centuries. While the final boundary demarcation is still to be accomplished, no problems

appear to remain unresolved between Burma and India. Chinese claims to Indian territory

in the Northeast Frontier Agency, however, have cast a shadow on the location of the

northern terminus of the Burma - India boundary. This status is reflected in the imprecision

of the last sentence of the delimitation. Nevertheless, the U.S. acceptance of the McMahon

Line obviates the necessity of acknowledging the dispute on official cartography.

IV. SUMMARY

The alignment of U.S. maps should follow the traditional boundary which has been

reaffirmed by the new treaty and the large-scale (1:126,720) strip maps annexed to it.

These confirm that the old Survey of India one-inch and quarter-inch sheets may be used

as boundary compilation sources for medium-scale maps. Modern one- and four-sheet

maps of India published by the Survey since independence may serve for smaller-scale

production.

Should the final demarcation change the alignment of the boundary, which is not

anticipated, this study will be revised and reissued as soon as the necessary data are

available.

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This International Boundary Study is one of a series of specific boundary papers prepared

by the Geographer, Office of Strategic and Functional Research, Bureau of Intelligence and

Research, Department of State, in accordance with provisions of Bureau of the Budget

Circular No. A-16.

Government agencies may obtain additional information and copies of the study by calling

the Geographer, Room 8744, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520 (Telephone

Code 182, Extension 4508).