"Myanmar President Win Myint’s February 26-29 state visit to India may appear on the diplomatic surface to be little more than a high-level courtesy call between neighbors. But the leader’s trip comes as India-Myanmar relations are on a decided upswing as the two sides’ security forces cooperate in unprecedented ways to fight insurgent groups that have long been active in their shared border region. Myanmar’s unwillingness to tackle ethnic insurgents who use its territory as sanctuary and a planning base for cross-border attacks on Indian security forces has long been an irritant for bilateral relations. But broader relations have recently improved with growing trade ties, aid deals and as Naypyidaw looks to another big power to hedge and contain its exposure to China’s economic might and influence. The new strategic cooperation began in January 2019 when the Myanmar army first drove ethnic rebels from Nagaland and other states in northeastern India from their main base at Taga in Myanmar’s northern Sagaing Region. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), a group comprised of mostly Myanmar Nagas, had provided sanctuary to Assamese and Manipuri insurgents who launched ambush attacks on Indian security forces in northeastern India and then retreated back across the border..."