Japan downgrades travel advisory for Assam; state seeks further global recognition
Guwahati, March 27: In a major policy shift, the Central government has withdrawn the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district. This move strengthens the state government’s vision of upgrading Dibrugarh as Assam’s second capital.
Announcing the decision after a cabinet meeting at Janata Bhawan on Thursday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the withdrawal to Assam’s improved security landscape and the state’s strategic development plans.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has withdrawn AFSPA from Dibrugarh following our request to the Union Home Minister during his visit. This aligns with our initiative to establish Dibrugarh as Assam’s second capital,” Sarma stated.
With this latest revocation, only three districts—Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo—remain under AFSPA, while all other 32 districts of Assam are now free from the law.
The move follows an October 2023 extension of AFSPA in four districts—Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sivasagar—due to concerns over disturbances in Bangladesh and their potential impact on regional security. However, the government has deemed Dibrugarh stable enough to be removed from the “disturbed area” category.
AFSPA, first imposed in Assam in 1990, grants security forces broad powers, including the ability to conduct operations without prior warrants and immunity from prosecution. The law had been extended every six months for decades but has gradually been withdrawn as peace and stability return to the region.
Japan downgrades travel advisory for Assam
In another boost for Assam’s global image, Japan has downgraded its travel advisory for the state from Level 2 to Level 1, signalling greater confidence in Assam’s security environment. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the decision to the government’s continuous efforts to enhance safety and promote the state as a viable tourist and investment destination.
Earlier, Australia had also withdrawn its travel advisory for Assam ahead of the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, reflecting growing international trust in the state’s improving law and order situation.
Despite these positive developments, six countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland—still maintain travel restrictions for their citizens visiting Assam and the Northeast due to past security concerns.
On March 25, state Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah informed the Assam Assembly that the government is actively working to reverse these advisories. The Assam Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is in discussions with foreign governments to encourage further relaxations.
“A high-level team from Australia recently visited Assam to assess the situation, and we are optimistic that more countries will follow suit in updating their advisories,” the minister added.
