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Myanmar, India to Launch Joint Military Against ULFA

2007-02-20 The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other North East based militant groups may soon face major problems as the Government of Myanmar has agreed to launch joint offensive with the Indian Army against the militants using the territory of the country as safe haven.

Highly placed official sources said that the Indian delegation headed by the Union Home Secretary, VK Duggal had detailed discussion on the activities of the militant groups with senior officials of the Government of Myanmar recently and submitted a list of camps of Indian militant outfits in the territory of Myanmar. The list was prepared on the basis of intelligence inputs and confessional statements of the arrested militants.

Sources said that the Indian delegation managed to impress upon the Government of Myanmar about the need for launching joint operations against the militant groups using the territory of the neighbouring country as their safe sanctuaries. The Minister of Home Affairs of the Government of Myanmar, Major General Maung Oo also attended the meeting and agreed to launch a joint offensive against the militant groups. Sources revealed that the date for launching the joint offensive is yet to be finalized and the Minister of Home Affairs of Myanmar would finalize the modalities of the joint offensive in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. Sources also revealed that as per the tentative plan, the Army personnel of India and Myanmar would launch simultaneous operation on both sides of the international border to trap the militants. India also agreed to extend all possible help to the Government of Myanmar for launching such an operation.

Sources revealed that the operation would be more vigorous than the one launched by the Government of Bhutan to flush out the militants belonging to the ULFA, National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) in December, 2003. However, sources admitted that it would be difficult to completely flush out the militants from the territory of Myanmar because of tough terrain and also because of the fact that the militants are using the vastly unused jungle areas of the neighbouring country, which has very little presence of the administrative machinery of Myanmar. “The basic idea of the proposed joint offensive is to reduce the comfort level of the militant groups as both the Governments are fully aware of the fact that it would be difficult to completely flush out the militants from the jungle areas of Myanmar, but the Army offensive on both sides of the international border would definitely keep the militants on the run,” sources pointed out.

Official sources also pointed out that the economy of Myanmar is in bad shape and the country needs the support of India to revive its economy. India is also extending help to Myanmar in several development projects including road construction schemes and construction of a mega power project. To get India’s help in reviving its economy, the Government of Myanmar is keen to maintain good relations with the Government of India and this time, Myanmar was very positive on the Indian delegation’s concerns about the presence of Indian militant groups in the territory of the neighbouring country.

According to information available with the Indian security agencies, the ULFA has about 250 to 300 militants in the camps located in Myanmar and the headquarters of the 28 battalion of the outfit is located in the territory of the neighbouring country. As per the estimates, the Manipur based militant groups including the UNLF and the PLA also have almost same number of militants in Myanmar. However, the Government of India does not have any estimate of the number of militants belonging to the Khaplang faction of the NSCN taking shelter in Myanmar. However, it is a fact that the NSCN(K)”s headquarter is located in Myanmar and the chief of the outfit spends most of his time in that country.

Sources also said that the ULFA launches most of its operations in the Upper Assam districts from its bases in Myanmar as the militants manage to sneak into India through either Nagaland or Arunachal Pradesh by taking advantage of the terrain. Though the Assam Rifles has been entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the international border, the force is raising new battalions to seal the border and it would take some time to complete deployment of force all along the border.