India, Myanmar Set to Increase Military, Energy Co-operation

The Hindu: 31 December, 2006

Increased contacts between senior military chiefs on both sides of the Burma-India border, involving Indian weapons sales, are believed by analysts to have two primary objectives: to help flush out Burma-based Indian insurgents and to counter growing Chinese influence in Naypyidaw.

But the sale of arms and related technical equipment is also likely to be linked to New Delhi Look East economic policy, including ambitions to buy huge quantities of Burma offshore gas in the Bay of Bengal. If the gas against rivals China and Thailand is successful, it will also involve building a costly pipeline through rebel-infested areas of northwest Burma and northeast India.

During a visit to Burma in November, India Air Marshal S P Tyagi offered a multimillion dollar sale of military hardware to Naypyidaw. The package includes helicopters, technical upgrades of Burma Russian and Chinese-made fighter planes, naval surveillance aircraft and radar manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, of New Delhi.

Military sources said the Burma junta has shown interest in acquiring Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-made helicopters. The air marshal offer includes Indian-made advanced light helicopters useful for combating insurgent groups and for rapid response military movements.

The visit of Gen Shwe Mann, the junta joint chief of staff, in December was expected to expand the arms sales talks.

Prior to the air force chief visit, Indian army chief Gen J J Sing offered, during a visit he made to Burma, to provide training in counterinsurgency campaigns for Burmese special forces.

Earlier in 2006, Indian Navy chief admiral Arun Prakash also visited Burma to negotiate the sale of two British-made BN-2 Islander maritime surveillance aircraft. This was followed by the sale of an unspecified number of T-55 tanks and 105mm light artillery guns.

That deal was confirmed by the Indian Army deputy chief, Lt-Gen S Pattabhiraman, to the Indian magazine Force in September. We have recommended and started giving them [the Burmese military] 105mm field guns, said Pattabhirama, adding that India had provided a few 75mm howitzers to Burma in the past.

Since 1993, New Delhi has reversed its position on Burma military government.

The Indian states of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, bordering or close to remote and inaccessible regions of Burma, have been plagued by insurgencies for decades. But an attack on a military post in Assam last July by the United National Liberation Front, one of the oldest armed groups defying New Delhi, seems to have strengthened the Indian military resolve to deal with the rebels.

However, it is almost impossible for India to counter the insurgency along India northeastern border without effective military cooperation from Burma.

Last September, a Burmese delegation led by Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Phone Swe, and Indian officials led by Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal, held talks in New Delhi to consider ways of securing their troubled border. The Indian delegation reportedly submitted a list of 15 India-related insurgent bases they believe are operating inside Burma.

The Naypyidaw regime has pledged to root out any insurgents who are troubling neighbors and taking sanctuary on Burmese territory. However, the junta says poor access to border areas due to lack of roads has hindered action. The junta has therefore also sought road-building equipment and expertise from India.

China influence in Burma economically and politically is also viewed by analysts as a major reason for New Delhi attempt to develop closer ties with the Burmese regime. India is now Burma fourth largest trading partner its investment reached US $35.08 million last year.

Now that India hopes to pipe natural gas from Burma through its unstable northeastern states, including Mizoram and Assam, New Delhi clearly feels the time has come to rid itself of insurgents and cozy up to the Burmese generals.