NEW DELHI, July 28 � Emboldened by success of its fresh diplomatic strategy with Bangladesh, India inked a similar pact with neighbouring Myanmar on Tuesday, with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram signing a Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters with Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Nyan Win.
The two countries signed four other agreements during the ongoing State visit of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, Senior General Than Shwe. His wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing is accompanying the chairman.
Yesterday, the Senior General held a meeting with Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, which was followed by a delegation level talk.
A joint statement issued at the end of meeting said the two leaders agreed on close cooperation between the security forces of the two countries in tackling the pernicious problem of terrorism.
It was agreed that security cooperation should be given immediate attention since terrorists, insurgents and criminals respect no boundaries and undermine the social and political fabric of a nation. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and collective efforts of the two countries along the border.
India and Myanmar shares a boundary that stretches for over 1,640 km and borders four north-eastern States.
New Delhi expects Myanmar to initiate same actions against the insurgents of North-east, as Dhaka did against ULFA and NDFB leaders. Militants belonging to various groups have been using the territory of Myanmar. Outlawed ULFA, NDFB, KLO, NSCN (I-M) and Khaplang factions, besides several outfits of Manipur operate from bases in the neighbouring country.
Sources said India is likely to compensate Myanmar for conducting �special search operation� based on inputs provided by India against militant leaders hiding in the country.
ULFA�s military chief Paresh Barua is known to sneak in and out of Myanmar after the crackdown in Bangladesh.
They agreed that trade at border trade points should be further enhanced to boost the immense potential that exists in bilateral trade. This would also directly benefit the north-eastern States.
In this connection, both leaders reiterated their commitment to undertake the tri-lateral connectivity from Moreh in India to Moe Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. The Indian side agreed to take up the preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for roads and causeways in Myanmar to realise this project.
Referring to the existing border trading points at Moreh-Tamu (Manipur) and Zawkhathar-Rhi (Mizoram), as well as the additional point agreed to be operationalised at Avankhug-Somra (Nagaland), the two sides agreed to put in place the necessary infrastructure to make these points viable and business friendly.
On the issue of connectivity between the two countries, the two leaders hailed the progress made by M/s Inland Waterways Authority of India towards implementation of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project.
M/s Essar has been given the contract for port development and inland waterway. It was also agreed that the scope of the project with respect to the road component would be revised. The Myanmar Ministry of Construction and IRCON would execute the road component between Paletwa and Myeikwa on the India border.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the construction, maintenance and repair work by Indian Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of the Tamu-Kalaywa-Kalemyo Road connecting Moreh in Manipur to Myanmar and the handing over of most of the segments of the TKK Road to the Government of Myanmar.
To enhance road connectivity, especially through the State of Mizoram, both leaders announced the construction and revamping of the Rhi-Tiddim road at a cost of more than US$ 60 million to be financed through grant assistance from India.
India and Myanmar agreed to cooperate in the implementation of the Tamanthi and Shwezaye projects on the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar. The NHPC in carrying out the much required additional investigations after the signing of the MoU on Cooperation in Hydro-power Development Projects in the Chindwin River Basin in September 2008.
The Myanmar side conveyed their gratitude for India�s line of credit of US$ 64 million in the transmission lines sector to be executed through M/s. PGCIL.
In the telecom sector, following the successful functioning of the official fibre link between India and Myanmar via Moreh, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the microwave link between Moreh to Mandalay under a line of credit of US$ 6 million from India. Further, a new optical fibre link between Monywa to Rhi-Zawkhathar will also be undertaken with Indian assistance.
