India To Provide Military Aid To Myanmar

In an attempt to offset China's might in the region, India is planning to provide defence aid to neighbouring Myanmar. After holding separate talks with Myanmar's President U Thein Sein, Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on Friday, visiting Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh said that the South Asian powerhouse would soon deliver more rocket launchers, 'Islander' maritime patrol aircraft and war-gaming softwares to its neighbour. According to the Army chief, the Indian defence personnel will also arrange counter-insurgency training for the Myanmarese soldiers.

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Reports suggest that General Singh discussed a number of measures to strengthen bilateral defence co-operation with the top leadership of the South-east Asian country. Upon his arrival in Naypyidaw, the Indian Army chief handed over two war-gaming software packages, named "Combat decision resolution" and "Infantry company commanders tactical trainer", to the Defence Services Academy. These two software packages are customised for training of the Myanmarese Army at the Pwin Oo Lwin-based academy. General Singh also handed over five hand-gliders to the academy.

Defence experts are of the opinion that India's main aim is to counter-balance China's "deep strategic inroads" into Myanmar. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, a senior Army personnel said: "Myanmar is very keen to expand defence ties with India in terms of supply of military equipment and spares, training and border co-operation. The country has also agreed to base an Indian Army Training Team on its soil, on the lines of what we have with Bhutan, Botswana and others, in the near future." He added: "India has also offered the Myanmarese Armed Forces special training packages in the Indian Army's counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school at Vairengte in Mizoram. The Army alone already provides them over 100 vacancies every year in its different training establishments. The Indian Navy and Air Force, too, are chipping in with training." The official stressed: "They are very keen on courses in mechanised forces, like tanks and infantry combat vehicles, information technology, intelligence and English language, among other areas. The Myanmarese Army chief will be visiting India from December 11 to 14."

Myanmar, the only ASEAN country that shares a 1,643km of land border with India as well as a maritime border, has gained significance in the Indian defence policy mainly because of China's growing influence in that country. Sinche Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Myanmar in May 2012, Defence Minister A K Antony and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne have also visited the country to bolster the bilateral military ties.

In a separate development, Pakistan has accused the US of derailing peace talks between Islamabad and the local Taliban outfit. Soon after the death of Pakistani Taliban Commander Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike in north-western part of the country on Friday, the concerned authorities in Islamabad said that although the attack could cause a severe and almost insuperable problem for the group, it undermined the effort made by the Nawaz Sharif government to engage the terrorist outfit in peace talks.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan issued a statement, saying it was unfortunate that Washington was sabotaging the peace talks. Pakistani intelligence officers, too, supported the minister's view and confirmed that Mehsud was killed soon after he met the senior Taliban leadership to discuss the peace process initiated by the Nawaz Sharif administration at the end of years of violence that claimed more than 45,000 lives.

Mehsud (33) became the top leader of the Pakistani Taliban in 2009 after the assassination of Baitullah Mehsud. Baitullah Mehsud was also killed in US drone strike.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/india-to-provide-military-aid-to-myanmar/