NEW DELHI, July 10 ? A simultaneous crackdown on North East-based militants operating along with the Indo-Myanmar border and growing incidence of drug trafficking in the region were the focus of the Eighth National Level Meeting between the two countries that got underway here today. By persuading the military regime to mount crackdown on the North-east militants, mostly those belonging to Manipur including the NSCN(K) faction, India hopes to take the fight to the insurgents? doorstep. The massive crackdown on one NSCN(K) faction by the Myanmar Army in which the outfit?s headquarters was targetted, some believed, may have been the crucial factor behind the Khaplang faction?s move to call for a ceasefire pact with India.
The national-level meeting in which Brig. Gen. Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs, led the Myanmar Government, saw two sides discussing insurgency, drug trafficking, free movement regime, joint inspection of boundary pillars, border trade and banking arrangements, maintenance of Klaytamu Road, Kaladin Project and Tamanthi hydro-electric project, besides construction of a tourism centre at Rhi lake. The Indian side led by Union Home Secretary, Kamal Pande, included officials of the north-eastern States bordering Myanmar including Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
An agreement between the two sides is likely to be signed here tomorrow following which the visiting Deputy Minister would call on Deputy Prime Min- ister, L K Advani. While border trade through Tamu border has shown signs of picking up, India wants the Myanmar Government to open another border trade route through Mizoram. Assam, it may be mentioned here, has been pressurising the Central Government to open the old Stillwell Road connecting Ledo with the country.
The Home Ministry officials here said that visit of Myanmar Deputy Minister will further strengthen cooperation between the two neighbours which would ensure peace and tranquality in the border areas and promote economic activity. The opening up of trade route through Myanmar is the core of the plan of India?s plan to develop the region. Of late, the Central Government has been trying to woo investors into the region by pointing out that infrastructure facilities is being put in place to open markets for Indian products right up to Thailand. An economic summit is being organised later this month in Mumbai by Department for Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) and Indian Chambers of Commerce to hard sell this aspect. Representatives of the Government of Myanmar besides Bangladesh and Bhutan are also expected to participate.