Army chief Naravane, foreign secy Shringla to visit Myanmar in September

Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane and foreign secretary Harsh Shringla will visit Myanmar in the first week of September to strengthen bilateral ties.

India is likely to raise its concern about the resurgence of two terror groups, Arakan Army and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. It may seek help from Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hliang to contain the two insurgent groups.

The Arakan Army has been targeting the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, a $484 million effort funded by India to link Myanmar’s Sittwe port to Mizoram by using the Kaladan river for transportation of goods. The project would provide alternative connectivity to Kolkata via Mizoram instead of taking the long Siliguri corridor route.

Arakan Army is allegedly supported by China-backed Kachin Independence Army.

Myanmar, meanwhile, has shown its willingness to deepen security ties with India. The Myanmar Army too has been consistently working with Indian Army to keep a tab on anti-India insurgent groups in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

In anticipation of the visit by Indian army chief and foreign secretary, the Myanmar Army has shown its inclination to deploy more troops on border with India to control groups such as the NSCN (K), ULFA, PLA and NSCN (IM), a senior Indian army commander said.

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Gen Naravane and Harsh Shringla are scheduled to meet the top leadership of Myanmar including Senior General, Vice Senior General Soe Win, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior leaders.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar government has allowed China access to the Andamans Sea through the $1.3 billion Kyaukphyu deep sea port in Rakhine and has allowed Beijing to exploit gas blocks on its land under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.