The Arakan Army (AA) which is fighting the national army in Rakhine and Kachin states has “very little chance” to join the country’s peace process now that the government has designated the 11-year-old force an unlawful, terrorist organization, RFA reported quoting a military spokesman.

The military spokesman made the comments in response to statements by AA officials in the wake of the government's designation on Monday of the AA and its political arm as terrorist group saying that the government’s decision would hurt any peace process.

AA officials have said that the government’s designation could worsen the situation for ethnic Rakhines accused of having connections to the AA and charged under the country’s Counter-Terrorism Law.