NEW DELHI, July 11? A fresh crackdown on the North-east-based militant outfits operating from across the border in Myanmar appears imminent, with the two countries agreeing on the need to take action against militancy and drug trafficking. The two-day eighth national-level meetings between India and Myanmar concluded here today on a positive not for the Home Ministry here as the military junta appeared convinced over the need to check the free run enjoyed by militants in the area.
At the end of the talks spread over two days, the two countries signed on the agreed minutes, following which the visiting Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs of Myanmar, Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung, called on Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh. According to sources, India highlighted the need for Myanmar Government to mount a crackdown on the camps including the training camps of the North-east militants in the remote areas of the country. Majority of insurgent outfits of Manipur, besides the NSCN (K) and of late the ULFA, have a sizeable presence in Myanmar. It is India?s expectation that a sustained pressure on the militants across the border may force some of them to approach it to cut a peace deal. The operations against Khaplang faction of NSCN for instance forced some of the cadres to flee to Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande, talking to newsmen, said that the issue of increased drug trafficking and running of camps by the North-east militants figured in the discussion and some action may be possible in the future. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It provided both countries with an opportunity to interact on a wide range of issues on security-related matters, especially ones relating to control of militancy and border management issues, besides reviewing the progress of a wide range of cross-border development projects,? Sri Pande said.
Apart from security-related and drug trafficking issues, other subjects that came up for discussion included joint inspection of boundary pillars, renewed thrust on border trade and banking arrangements on either side, maintenance of Klaytamu Road. The setting up of Kaladin and Tamanthi hydro-power projects and development of Rhi lake area as a tourist destination centre were also discussed. Several of the north-eastern States including Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which have international borders with Myanmar, participated in the two-day meeting. The national-level meeting held once in two years time alternately in the two countries, has become significant for the two countries in building mutual confidence and addressing common problems along the borders.