In a hard-hitting segment on Republic TV’s “Debate With Arnab Goswami,” host Arnab Goswami sat down with Vikram Sood, former chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), to dissect alarming revelations from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The discussion focused on the recent arrest of seven foreign nationals—six Ukrainians and one American—accused of involvement in militant training activities tied to Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups, with serious implications for India’s volatile Northeast, particularly Manipur.
The arrests, carried out around March 13, 2026, targeted individuals who allegedly entered India on tourist visas, traveled to the restricted border state of Mizoram without the required Protected Area Permit, and illegally crossed into Myanmar. There, they are suspected of providing training in weapons handling, drone warfare, and related tactics to ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). Some of these groups reportedly have links to banned insurgent outfits operating in India’s northeastern region, raising fears of spillover violence into states like Manipur, which has been grappling with ethnic conflicts and border instability.
The American national at the center of the case is Matthew Aaron VanDyke (also referred to as Matthew Van Dyke), a figure with a controversial background as a private military operator and mercenary. Reports describe him as having combat experience in conflict zones including Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He has been associated with training rebel groups in the past and founded an entity called Sons of Liberty International. Some narratives suggest his activities may align with broader foreign interests, though official charges center on illegal entry, conspiracy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and facilitating drone consignments from Europe routed through India for militant use.
A special NIA court in Delhi’s Patiala House granted the agency 11 days of custody for the accused (remanded until late March 2026) to allow deeper interrogation into funding sources, digital footprints, and potential wider networks. The US Embassy stated it was “aware of the situation” regarding its citizen but refrained from further comment due to privacy considerations.
During the interview, Vikram Sood provided expert analysis on the national security ramifications. He framed the incident as indicative of foreign intelligence or mercenary-driven efforts to exploit vulnerabilities in India’s Northeast. Sood highlighted how such operatives could exacerbate local ethnic tensions in Manipur, create ground-level instability, and serve larger geopolitical objectives aimed at undermining India’s border security. He emphasized the strategic importance of the India-Myanmar frontier and warned that unchecked foreign involvement risks turning regional conflicts into proxy battlegrounds.
Arnab Goswami pressed on the “global conspiracy” angle, questioning whether foreign agencies were attempting to fuel unrest in sensitive areas. The debate underscored the NIA’s ongoing probe into possible connections between these foreign actors and Indian insurgent elements, as well as the routing of advanced technology like drones that could shift the dynamics of asymmetric warfare in the region.
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of cross-border activities in the Northeast, where ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s civil strife have occasionally spilled over, complicating India’s internal security landscape. The arrests and the subsequent high-profile discussion on Republic TV serve as a stark reminder of the multifaceted threats—ranging from mercenary adventurism to potential external interference—facing India’s northeastern frontiers. As investigations continue, the case could reveal more about hidden networks aiming to destabilize the region.
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