G.K. Pillai Imphal, Feb. 27: India and Myanmar are gearing up for a “well-coordinated operation” to flush out militants of the Northeast from the jungles in the neighbouring coountry.
The operation was finalised after Union home secretary G.K. Pillai visited Yangon on February 18.
An official source here said Pillai had disclosed this during a security meeting attended by top officials of the state police and central forces in Imphal yesterday.
Pillai said last night that rebel camps of various groups from the Northeast, including the United National Liberation Front, People’s Liberation Army, NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Isak-Muivah) were based in Myanmar. The locations of these camps and maps of the area, Pillai said, had been provided during his meeting with Myanmar’s deputy home minister Brig. Gen. Phone Swe.
“They assured us that any camp working against Indian interests would be targeted,” Pillai said. He, however, expressed doubts regarding the capabilities of the Myanmarese military and the effectiveness of such an operation.
“They will take action, but the Myanmarese military has certain limitations concerning their capabilities,” he said.
In a passing mention about the militancy scene in Assam, Pillai said almost all the top Ulfa leaders have either surrendered or been arrested. “Groups like the DHD (Jewel) and United Peoples Democratic Solidarity have come forward for talks. The situation is just ripe for taking stock of the peace process in the Northeast,” he added.
During the security meeting, the official said, Pillai had advised the security agencies to be prepared for the coordinated operation.
The home secretary, the official added, had also told the meeting that Myanmar had agreed to share intelligence regarding cross- border movement of militants. The official, however, declined to say when the operation would start.
The source said India would provide information about the presence of rebel camps and their locations from time to time.
Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has been urging New Delhi for effective manning of the international border. The chief minister had earlier notified the Centre that militants sneak into Manipur from their Myanmarese camps and retreat into that country when the security forces on this side mount pressure.
Army sources here said they would discuss details of the operation and share intelligence with their Myanmarese counterparts during the 14-day Indo-Myanmar bi-annual liaison meeting under way at Kalay in Myanmar since Thursday.Source :http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100228/jsp/northeast/story_12159824.jsp
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