GUWAHATI, June 28 � The Government of India has termed the recent visit of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval to Myanmar as a �fruitful one� and the Army Chief of the neighbouring country is scheduled to visit India in the early part of next month to have a detailed discussion on the possibility of launching offensive against the militants using the territory of that country as safe sanctuaries for years.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that during his visit, the NSA had detailed talks with the President and other leaders of Myanmar on the problems created by the militants and sought help to deal with the problem. The Government of Myanmar understood India�s concerns on the issue and decided that the Army Chief of Myanmar would visit India to have detailed discussion on how to deal with the problem.
Though Myanmar assured full cooperation to India to tackle the problem, the leaders of that country also admitted that they had some problems in administering the remote areas where the militants are camping. However, the Government of Myanmar has agreed to move additional troops to the areas bordering India, while, on its part, the Government of India has also decided to augment security measures along the international border. Sources pointed out that if both the countries move additional troops to the international border areas, trans-border movement of the militants would be reduced to a great extent.
Sources pointed out that though the Government of Myanmar has assured to extend full cooperation to India to deal with militancy, it is still not decided whether both the countries would launch joint operations. The details will be worked out only during the visit of the Myanmar Army Chief and coordinated operations on both sides of the international border are possible, sources added.
MHA sources said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already constituted a Task Force to study the problems of guarding the international border with Myanmar and to suggest measures. Members of the Task Force already carried out field visits and held talks with the Governments of the concerned states. The Task Force is likely to submit its report soon and with the Prime Minister himself taking keen interest, it is very much likely that the recommendations would be implemented on the ground soon.
Meanwhile, security sources said that the militants camping in Myanmar are on the back foot after the Indian Army�s operation early this month and all the cadres staying in the camps are put on alert so that they are not caught totally off guard yet again. The intercepts of the communication of the militants also indicated that they are trying to shift weapons from the existing camps to deep inside Myanmar fearing more attacks by the security forces.