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Sharing of intelligence to fight insurgency on cards Shishir Gupta
The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)
November 17, 2000
MYANMAR IS set to become the centrepiece of India's "Look East" policy
with New Delhi bent upon intensifying its physical and economic links
with neighbours in South East Asia.
During the state visit of Vice Chairmanof the State Peace and
Development Council of Myanmar General Maung Aye to New Delhi, the two
sides are expected to pave way for a multi-faceted relationship that
envisages bilateral cooperation in areas as diverse as biotechnology and
infrastructural development.
Recently, a top External Affairs Ministry official said that close
relationship with Yangon was critical to New Delhi with India no longer
looking at South East Asia as its extended neighbourhood. The signing of
the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation this month and the subsequent
concretisation of the Asian highway project linking South East Asia with
India via Myanmar has helped bridge the gap between the subcontinent and
the Indo-China region.
The MEA official said that faced with an "obdurate" neighbour in the
west, India wanted to forge a strategic partnership with Myanmar as it
was New Delhi's overland link with South East Asia. With the 160-km
Tamu-Kale-Kalewa Road scheduled to be inaugurated in January, India will
have a road connection to Mandalay. Myanmar, on its part, recognises its
geographical location and is prepared to pave its way as a
"strategic gateway" for South East Asia to the Indian
subcontinent. Major General Saw Lwin, Myanmar Tourism Minister, publicly
announced this at the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Ministerial group meeting
at Vientiane on November 10.
With the red carpet being rolled for Gen Maung Aye and his delegation
tomorrow, New Delhi is giving signals that it wants to adopt a pragmatic
approach to its relationship with Yangon. For instance, India has
offered development assistance to Myanmar in the form of upgrading road
communication and railway system in Kachin State and Chin State. It is
also willing to assist in development of inland water transport
facilities in Chindwin and Kaladan rivers, besides helping in building
better seaport facilities.
Indian policy towards Myanmar is shaped keeping the evolving Asian
security balance in mind. While China is building the Hanigyi naval base
in Myanmar, there is Pakistani footprint in the development of the Haka
air base in the Chin State.
The two sides are expected to continue and intensify efforts to contain
insurgency by denying the use of each other's territories by militants.
The prospects of the two countries sharing actionable intelligence in
order to counter insurgency and smuggling of narcotics will also be
deliberated upon.
Military hardware relationship could figure in the bilateral talks with
both countries determined to tackle insurgents. The Arakanese and Karen
insurgents, who are active in Myanmar, are using the Andaman Sea for
transferring arms and ammunition from Ranong or Chiang Mai in Thailand
to Cox's bazaar in Bangladesh. These weapons are then taken to Myanmar
over land route.
Another aspect of this growing relationship with Yangon is that India is
willing to set-up a centre for biotechnology to map the bio-resources in
that country. It is understood that New Delhi has plans to offer some
2.5 million US dollars as assistance in the biotechnology sector.In the
information technology sector, New Delhi will put its expertise on
display with Myanmar expected to be asked to identify specific areas
where it needs assistance.
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<br><b><font size=+2>Sharing of intelligence to fight insurgency on cards
Shishir Gupta</font></b>
<p><b>The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)</b>
<br><b>November 17, 2000</b>
<p>MYANMAR IS set to become the centrepiece of India's "Look East" policy
with New Delhi bent upon intensifying its physical and economic links with
neighbours in South East Asia.
<p>During the state visit of Vice Chairmanof the State Peace and Development
Council of Myanmar General Maung Aye to New Delhi, the two sides are expected
to pave way for a multi-faceted relationship that envisages bilateral cooperation
in areas as diverse as biotechnology and infrastructural development.
<p>Recently, a top External Affairs Ministry official said that close relationship
with Yangon was critical to New Delhi with India no longer looking at South
East Asia as its extended neighbourhood. The signing of the Mekong-Ganga
Cooperation this month and the subsequent concretisation of the Asian highway
project linking South East Asia with India via Myanmar has helped bridge
the gap between the subcontinent and the Indo-China region.
<p>The MEA official said that faced with an "obdurate" neighbour in the
west, India wanted to forge a strategic partnership with Myanmar as it
was New Delhi's overland link with South East Asia. With the 160-km Tamu-Kale-Kalewa
Road scheduled to be inaugurated in January, India will have a road connection
to Mandalay. Myanmar, on its part, recognises its geographical location
and is prepared to pave its way as a "strategic
gateway" for South East Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Major General
Saw Lwin, Myanmar Tourism Minister, publicly announced this at the Mekong
Ganga Cooperation Ministerial group meeting at Vientiane on November 10.
<p>With the red carpet being rolled for Gen Maung Aye and his delegation
tomorrow, New Delhi is giving signals that it wants to adopt a pragmatic
approach to its relationship with Yangon. For instance, India has offered
development assistance to Myanmar in the form of upgrading road communication
and railway system in Kachin State and Chin State. It is also willing to
assist in development of inland water transport facilities in Chindwin
and Kaladan rivers, besides helping in building better seaport facilities.
<p>Indian policy towards Myanmar is shaped keeping the evolving Asian security
balance in mind. While China is building the Hanigyi naval base in Myanmar,
there is Pakistani footprint in the development of the Haka air base in
the Chin State.
<p>The two sides are expected to continue and intensify efforts to contain
insurgency by denying the use of each other's territories by militants.
The prospects of the two countries sharing actionable intelligence in order
to counter insurgency and smuggling of narcotics will also be deliberated
upon.
<p>Military hardware relationship could figure in the bilateral talks with
both countries determined to tackle insurgents. The Arakanese and Karen
insurgents, who are active in Myanmar, are using the Andaman Sea for transferring
arms and ammunition from Ranong or Chiang Mai in Thailand to Cox's bazaar
in Bangladesh. These weapons are then taken to Myanmar over land route.
<p>Another aspect of this growing relationship with Yangon is that India
is willing to set-up a centre for biotechnology to map the bio-resources
in that country. It is understood that New Delhi has plans to offer some
2.5 million US dollars as assistance in the biotechnology sector.In the
information technology sector, New Delhi will put its expertise on display
with Myanmar expected to be asked to identify specific areas where it needs
assistance.
<br> </html>
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