Myanmar has indicated that it is not averse to conducting joint operations along the border with India to flush out militants
Myanmar has indicated that it is not averse to conducting joint operations along the border to flush out militants who carry out attacks in India and cross over to that country.
A high-level military delegation from Myanmar will be in New Delhi soon to work out a strategy and fine-tune the existing mechanism to take on insurgents operating along the Indo-Myanmar border, sources told NDTV.
The decision to send the delegation was taken during the two-day visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to Nay Pyi Daw, the Myanmar capital earlier this month. Mr Doval was accompanied by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General MMS Rai.
The visit came soon after militants belonging to the Myanmar-based NSCN(K) ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel killing 18 soldiers. Four days later, in a daring operation, India's Special Forces went across the border and destroyed two militant camps, killing as many as 50 rebels.
Sources said Myanmar has assured India that it will not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activity, but also flagged its inability to police the borders adequately because of lack of resources. It has, however, said it will strengthen deployment along the border to the extent possible.
India, too, will step up vigilance along the border with Myanmar and will share real-time intelligence with the neighbour on movement of insurgents.
The deployment of the Assam Rifles will also be looked at afresh, sources said. Although the Assam Rifles are designated as a border-guarding force, they have been used largely for counter-insurgency operations.
India and Myanmar have an open border and nationals of either country can visit up to 16 kilometres on the other side without checks.