India is dispatching large military transport aircraft to evacuate its nationals from Mae Sot, Thailand, following nine consecutive days of heavy bombing at KK Park in Myanmar that has forced nearly 1,600 foreign workers to flee across the border.
According to Thai official sources, the Indian Air Force will send evacuation flights on November 6 and 10 from Mae Sot International Airport to repatriate Indian citizens. Thai authorities have completed screening and processing procedures in preparation for the evacuation.
As of the latest count, 1,597 people have fled into Mae Sot district in Tak province—1,332 men and 265 women from 28 nationalities. Indians comprise the largest group with 465 people, followed by Filipinos (220), Chinese (185), Vietnamese (151), and Ethiopians (130).
The mass exodus comes as Myanmar military forces and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) continue large-scale bombing operations at KK Park, which began on November 2. The forces have been detonating powerful explosives up to four times daily, with blasts occurring during both daytime and nighttime hours, destroying multiple buildings and facilities.
Shrapnel from the explosions has regularly crossed the border, landing in Mae Ku Tha Sung village in Mae Sot district, endangering Thai residents.
Official response from MEA (https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1983505182529863845)
Our response to media queries on Indian nationals detained in Thailand⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/XidK8NZKCj pic.twitter.com/hFoSq9tG7O
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 29, 2025
Bulldozers were used to destroy over 10,000 pieces of electronic equipment used in scam compounds
Use of Starlink – Satellite Internet: Roofs of K K Park had hundreds of Starlink installed, which were suspectedly smuggled from other nations.
Cambodia is another major hub for such operations. International attention intensified on October 14 when the United States and United Kingdom enacted sanctions against organizers of a major Cambodian cyberscam gang, whose alleged ringleader was indicted by a U.S. federal court in New York.
Indian Air Force’s assistance
- Operation Details: The IAF is deploying large military transport aircraft (likely C-17 Globemasters or similar) for evacuation flights from Mae Sot International Airport in Thailand.
- Schedule: Three flights planned:
- November 6, 2025 (first batch).
- November 10, 2025 (additional rotations).
- Schedule: Three flights planned:
- Coordination: Working with Thai officials, the Indian Embassy in Yangon, and Myanmar authorities. Evacuees are being transported from border checkpoints to the airport.
- Significance: This marks a swift IAF operation in a cross-border crisis, highlighting India’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad. Similar evacuations have occurred in the past (e.g., during Myanmar’s 2021 coup), but this is one of the largest for scam victims.
- Transport squadrons from bases like Hindon AFS (Uttar Pradesh) or Jorhat AFS (Assam) are likely involved, given their proximity and heavy-lift capabilities.
This is the second time, India has initiated a mission to bring back Indians who fled K K Park.
Organized transnational cybercrimes are a major global issue; coupled with Human trafficking, it makes it more critical. Nations needs to come together for cracking down on the syndicates.
