Joint patrolling with Myanmar to turn heat on cross-border insurgents

NEW DELHI: Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is now on a four-day visit to Myanmar to further boost bilateral defence cooperation, even as the Indian Army is stepping-up coordinated patrolling with Myanmarese forces along the porous 1,643-km land border to turn the heat on Indian insurgent groups operating in the region.
Admiral Lanba is slated to hold talks with Myanmar’s first vice-president U Myint Swe, deputy commander-inchief (defence forces) Vice-senior General Soe Win and navy chief Admiral Tin Aung San, apart from visiting defence establishments, during his trip from November 1 to 4.
“Admiral Lanba’s visit, which will coincide with a port call at Yangon by three Indian ships, is intended to consolidate and enhance the bilateral maritime relations between India and Myanmar. The two navies already cooperate with each other in training and operational interactions,” said an official.
India has also promised additional military aid and training to Myanmar as part of the policy to counter China’s inroads into that country. India is also keen that Myanmar undertake sustained operations against militant groups like the NSCN (Khaplang), ULFA, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA), Kannglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), which for long have had bases in the thick jungles along the international border.
In June last year, Indian para-commandos had conducted a “successful” cross-border raid against two insurgent camps inside Myanmar after 18 Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Chandel district of Manipur.