Kaladan News

Dated: January 4, 2004:

INDIA SENT TROOPS TO TRAIN BURMESE FROCES FOR JOINT OPERATION

Chittagong, January 4: India has sent troops to train Burmese forces in Burma for joint operation against anti-Indian rebels, the Chief of the Indian army General N.C.Vij said on January 02, 2004, according to a local newspaper.

He further said, separatists fighting in northeastern India were still operating in neighboring Bangladesh and Burma after losing their bases in Bhutan.

“We have sent our troops to train Burmese forces and we might well come up to that stage for joint operations,” he further added.

“Burma and Bangladesh are still safe havens for the militants, but presence of militants is relatively higher in Bangladesh than in Burma,” Vij told reporters.

India has in recent years been building ties with Burma, partly to counter what it becomes aware of as growing Chinese influence on its neighbor.

Ties were strained after the military took power in Rangoon in 1988 and India granted safe haven to exiles. ##

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