On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs responded to reports claiming that some rebel groups from Myanmar had gathered in Mizoram, with Chief Minister Lalduhoma present. 

“We have seen some reports on the matter. Our position on the situation in Myanmar is well known. I would also like to reiterate that foreign policy issues do not lie within the remit of State governments,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press conference. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Myanmar’s Chinland Council (CC) and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) signed a merger agreement on February 26 in Aizawl, with Lalduhoma present. 

The purpose of this merger is to end conflicts between the two groups and join forces in resisting Myanmar’s military regime. Jacob V. Zawma, a member of the CC steering committee and the coordinator of the negotiating team, stated that the two organisations united since having two bodies from the Chin community was "counterproductive." The Chief Minister’s office informed the news outlet that after the merger, the two Chin armed groups will be known as the Chin National Council (CNC). 

Mizoram MLA Lalmuanpuia Punte stated that the Chief Minister worked to bring the two groups together following a request from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “Security threat on Indian side of Mizoram looms if political situation in Chin state is unstable, uniting factions of the Chin armed forces has been for long in our radar, unified, I believe the Chin resistance will reach new heights in deposing the military rule,” Punte told the newspaper.