India sends reminder to Burma
Even as Burma misses its June 10 deadline for starting armed operations to flush out Indian militant outfits from its soil, Indian security agencies have yet again sent a reminder to their Burmese counterparts, saying the action should be initiated immediately.
Burma had give a categorical assurance to India during the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that it will launch a massive offensive against Indian militant outfits running terror camps from its soil. However, intelligence sources said there was little that had been done on the ground by Burmese security forces.
In fact, sources also confirmed that Indian security forces along the Indo-Burma border were on high alert to seal it in case armed operation against terror outfits was launched in Burma. But that did not happen. Now the Indian security agencies, in a fresh missive to their counterparts across the border, have said they should be kept informed about the offensive so that necessary precautionary measures can be put in place along the border.
“The militants will definitely try and escape into India once pushed by the Burmese forces. This will have to be checked by our forces at the border,” a senior government official said.
India had strongly raised the issue of terror camps in Burma during Dr Singh’s visit following which it was assured of stringent action. Interestingly, India for the first time also provided satellite imagery of terror camps to Burma authorities. India also categorically told Burma that Northeast terror outfits like the Ulfa and the PLA were indulging heavily in smuggling of narcotics from Burma. Both these terror groups have large tracts of land in Burma where poppy was being cultivated, intelligence sources remarked.
In addition to PLA and Ulfa, the other Indian terror groups active in Burma include the NSCN(K) and the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
Highly placed government sources said though India has assured Burma of its commitment to help in development of infrastructure projects, New Delhi would like to see a greater urgency on Burma’s part in dealing with Indian terror outfits operating there.
For Indian terror outfits, sources added, Burma provides a very strategic base.
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