JOIN USLess than two months after Indian Army’s “surgical strike” inside Myanmar against Northeast militants, the Chief of Defence Staff of Myanmar would be visiting India to discuss future avenues of military cooperation and how the two nations would work together to nab the militants still at large.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander in chief and the Chief of Defence Services (CDS) of Myamnar, would arrive on July 26 on a six-day visit. He departs on August 1.
The Myanmar general would visit Indian military facilities, including a base repair depot of the Indian Air Force, before he arrives in Delhi for official talks on July 29. Gen Hlaing would meet defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the service chiefs, sources told Deccan Herald.
Parrikar on Friday told the Lok Sabha that “Myanmar has reiterated its assurance that its territory would not be allowed to be used for activities inimical to India," he stated.
Last month, an army convoy was ambushed by well-armed terrorists in Chandel district of Manipur. The militants killed 18 soldiers and injured 15 more.
Within days, Indian Army retaliated by launching a surgical strike on the militants inside the Myanmar territory with tacit support from the Myanmar government. “Significant casualties were inflicted on the terrorists,” Parrikar said.
“The intelligence grid has been revitalised. Efforts have been made for seamless interface amongst all intelligence agencies and units conducting counter terrorism operations so as to collate, analyse and disseminate intelligence in a timely manner,” he noted.
The senior general would explore avenues for further exports of arms to Myanmar and how the neighbouring nation can take advantage of some of the repair and maintenance facilities of the Indian armed forces.
In the last one year, New
Delhi exported RAWL-02 MK III long-range surveillance radar to Myanmar Army and HMS-X sonars to Myanmar Navy.
India maintains close military relations with Myanmar and several of its officers have been trained in Indian military establishments. The armed forces of the two countries conduct joint exercises and coordinate with each other while guarding the 400-km porous border.