AGENCY
NEW DELHI: India and Myanmar on Monday resolved to strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation for maintaining peace and stability along the 1,640-km-long border, some stretch of which is porous and den for cross- border crime and insurgency in the northeast. In their talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw discussed ways for “sound border management” holding it an intrinsic part of maintaining security, peace and stability along the entire length of the border.
A joint statement said both sides reiterated their commitment to “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other and to continue practising the policy of not allowing any insurgent groups to use their soil for hostile activities against the other side”. It said both the sides “reaffirmed” their shared commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations, adding it was agreed that enhanced cooperation between security forces and border guarding agencies was key to ensure peace in border areas.
A number of insurgent groups including the NSCN-K carry out attacks in India while reportedly operating from Myanmar’s territory. The Indian Army is said to have carried out a cross border strike targeting two insurgent camps in Myanmar last year. Earlier this month, the Army had an encounter with with NSCN-K cadres who tried to infiltrate into Nagaland from Myanmar. India has been raising with Myanmar the issue of several northeast militant groups having training camps in that country. “Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation, which is crucial for maintaining peace and stability along the long India-Myanmar border,” the statement said.
On the maritime security sphere, both sides agreed that such cooperation in the Bay of Bengal is vital for both countries.
As per the joint statement, Myanmar informed the Indian side that State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi will come to India to participate in the forthcoming Outreach Summit between BRICS and BIMSTEC on October 16. Holding terrorism as the most serious threat facing the world, the two sides called for further strengthening of the international legal regime to combat the menace. In this context, they called for early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism currently being negotiated in the United Nations.
