India, Myanmar began talks on insurgency, arms smuggling

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) India and Myanmar today began a series of deliberations on several important issues, including cross border insurgency, arms smuggling and border management.

The six-day talks between the militaries of India and Myanmar, which commenced at Kolkata, would be the 32nd border liaison meeting between the two countries.

A 15-member Myanmar Army delegation, led by Brig Gen Tin Maung Ohn, arrived at Kolkata today.

Brig Gen Tin Maung Ohn would call on Eastern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Lt Gen V K Singh tomorrow.

The delegation would hold the second round of deliberations at the Eastern Command Headquarters with the Indian team led by Eastern Command Chief of Staff Lt Gen P K Goel.

Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh share international borders with Myanmar.

Various issues such as cross border insurgency, arms smuggling and border management between the two countries were being discussed during the meeting.

The delegation had earlier visited Rangapahar for the first rounds of discussions.

The Indo-Myanmar border liaison meetings would go a long way in ushering a close bonding between the two neighbours, Army spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur said here.

The next meeting between the two sides would be held in Myanmar later this year.

UNI AG HS VC1948