Eyeing closer ties, India
to train Myanmar armymen
Jayanth Jacob ,
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, August 02, 2012
In an important strategic move, India has
decided to train more Myanmar army personnel and give them more non-weapon
equipment in a bid to step up military ties with its key neighbour. Myanmar, where China has a huge presence, shares 1,600- km-long land border
with India.
India and Myanmar have
been working together to bring greater traction in the military ties and
security cooperation.
The decision to train more
Myanmar army personnel will have a crucial role to play in this plan. India has
been urging Myanmar to clamp down on the insurgents from north eastern parts of
India. Myanmar has become a haven for NE rebels to re-group and launch attack
on India.
India has also decided to give
more equipment to the Myanmar army such as the earth moving machines. These
decisions coincide with the week-long visit of commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s
armed forces vice senior general Miu Aung Hlaing to India, which began on
Wednesday.
He will hold discussions
with defence minister AK Antony and the three service chiefs. In events of
symbolic significance, visiting general will also be hosted at the Eastern Army
Command in Kolkata and Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
Though Myanmar has taken
baby steps into democracy, the military still has a decisive influence in the
country’s polity as well as Parliament. The army has 25% seat reserved in
Parliament.
Institutionalising
high-level exchanges and training of personnels are being seen as part of this
strategy to enhance the security and military cooperation.
Myanmar also holds an
important role in India’s look-east policy. It is the only country in
Association of South East Asian Countries (ASEAN) group that has a land
boundary with India.
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