November 22 (NMG)

Regional Command level meeting between Indian and Burmese armies was held on November 17 at Kalaymyo, Sagaing Division of Burma. The insurgency and armed revolve issues were the highlights of the meeting and two countries agreed to combat insurgencies by means of joint operation, a person who closed to India Army said in anonymity.

India Army delegation was headed by Chief Officer of Eastern Command General Madan Gopal and Colonel Tin Maung Ohn, deputy commander of Northwest Command headed Burmese delegation. India delegation was comprised of fifteen members including Indian military attache in Rangoon and its counterpart was included seventeen members.

In the meeting, Burmese delegation expressed their concerns of the presence of Chin National Army (CNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) on India soil and India also pointed out Northeast's 'separatist' armed groups bases in Kabaw Valley, Tamu and Nant-Phar-Lone market in Burma.

Two sides agreed to take necessary measures if these facts were found correct and to plan a joint operation by India and Burmese to conduct a joint operation against these militants.

India delegation promised to take action on its counterpart's claims that Burmese pro-democracy groups had been organizing political activities, public speeches, training, schools and library in Imphal and Moreh on border areas if India is informed those events in advanced in future.

After the meeting, 15-membered India delegation later headed to Monywa and Mandalay and the Northwest Commander in Chief, General Thar Aye hosted a dinner at Monywa on November18.
Although India delegation planned to come back India from Mandalay on November 20, their trip has extended until November 23.

This meeting marked one of the highest level talks between two Armies.

There had been accuses between two countries that Burma was accused by India that ZRA and CNA were taking Indian soil as their bases. India, in turn, said the Northeast 'separatist' groups such as ULFA, PLA, PREPAK and UNLF were taking shelter in Burma.

In the meeting, Burmese delegation raised questions on recent joint military exercise by India and US in early this year and the on-going process of peace talk with Naga rebel groups. On the other hand, India also asked Burmese army to open communication channels between two armies in order to exchange information about security concerns in the border areas.

Network Media Group