After Indian Army's strike in Myanmar, Chinese officials deny links with NE militant groups

Chinese officials have refuted allegations about the Chinese army aiding militants from India’s northeastern states, saying the charges are "absurd" and such a linkage is "impossible".

Any claim that officers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) may be in touch with leaders of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K)–blamed for a string of recent attacks on Indian troops – is "absurd", state-run Global Times quoted the think tank officials as saying.

The NSCN-K is among nine groups that came together in April to form the United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia. The United Liberation Front of Asom faction led by Paresh Barua is part of the grouping. Indian security officials had said Chinese intelligence played an active role in encouraging the groups to come together.

The Global Times reported that Chinese experts believe the existence of ties between the PLA and Indian militants is “impossible”.

China’s foreign ministry has not commented on the matter so far.

"The Indian media has long been a rumour monger when it comes to China's support for the insurgent groups in northeastern India," said Zhao Gancheng, director of the Centre for Asian-Pacific Studies at the state-run Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.

"A connection between China and the Indian rebels is impossible, especially after India and China resumed diplomatic relationships in 1988," he added.

"The phone-intercepts can prove nothing. It is hard to determine the identity of Chinese (officials) just by a phone conversation. It can be easily forged," said Wang Dehua, director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Tongji University.

Li Li, deputy director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceania Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, described reports of the alleged links between Chinese officials and the militants as "absurd".

"It is impossible for China to intervene in the domestic affairs of India, especially when the two countries' relationship is developing very well after (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's visit (to China last month)," Li said.

Indian security officials believe the NSCN-K has close ties with the Chinese intelligence and that it abrogated a ceasefire with the Central government earlier this year on the instructions of the PLA.

Chinese intelligence operatives are active in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, where the northeastern militant groups have several camps. The heads of both the NSCN-K and ULFA are believed to be in Myanmar.

Indian security officials believe China is backing the militant groups to keep things boiling in India's northeast because of its claim on the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

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(With inputs from PTI)