The 17th National level meeting between India and Myanmar concluded at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The Indian delegation was led by R.K. Singh, Home Secretary, and the Myanmar delegation was led by Brigadier General Kyaw Zan Myint, Deputy Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Recalling the traditionally close relationship between India and Myanmar, the leaders of India and Myanmar delegation expressed commitment to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in economic and developmental areas, closer people to people contact and maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border.

The Home Secretary gave an overview of the main areas of concern to India and expressed hope that these could be discussed in the spirit of trust and friendship between India and Myanmar. Both sides discussed in detail security-related issues like presence of Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) along Indo-Myanmar border, exchange of intelligence information and arms smuggling.

The leader of Indian delegation mentioned about IIGs camps and training facilities in Myanmar and sought Myanmar’s cooperation in dealing with IIG’s activities. The Home Secretary especially mentioned that IIGs are planning largescale disturbances in the forthcoming elections in 2012 in Manipur. The leader of Myanmar delegation assured that Myanmar would never allow insurgents to use its territory to engage in any hostile activities against its neighbour India.

The two sides agreed to maintain closer interaction between the nodal points and respective commanding officers of border guarding forces of the two countries for sharing real time intelligence. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the meetings of the Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) at DC/SP level at Moreh/Tamu and Zowakhatar/Rhi to discuss measures for combating arms smuggling, drug trafficking, smuggling of wildlife parts and other issues and it was decided that BLO meetings be held more frequently.

It was agreed to establish a new BLO at Ukhrul (India)-Somra (Myanmar). The Indian leader agreed to provide the requisite communication facilities for the additional BLO and Commanding Officers level interactions at the border.

In order to trace the recipients of the arms smuggling in India, the leader of Indian delegation requested Myanmar to share interrogation reports of arms smugglers arrested by Myanmar security forces. The leader of the Myanmar delegation agreed to share these reports with India.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over decline in drug trafficking and agreed to regular interaction between drug control agencies of both countries at DG level and DDG level to eliminate the menace of drug trafficking.

India offered training and any other support that Myanmar may require to combat drug trafficking. They also discussed illegal wildlife trafficking, tourism cooperation, training of Myanmar security forces in India and repatriation issues of Myanmar fishermen in Indian prisons and Indian prisoners in Myanmar. India offered all possible support to assist Myanmar in its pursuit for better connectivity and overall development.