Eyeing closer ties, India to train Myanmar armymen

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.

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.

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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.

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.