India presses Myanmar for action against insurgent groups

NEW DELHI - India Thursday conveyed its concerns to Myanmar at activities of insurgent groups operating on their border and sought to strengthen intelligence sharing mechanism with the energy-rich country.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai met Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Home Affairs U. Phone Swi for the 16th round of home secretary-level talks.

Issues relating to strengthening of intelligence sharing mechanism between the two countries, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, border management, border trade were on the agenda, the home ministry said.

Indias concern on activities of Indian insurgent groups operating along Indo-Myanmar border were conveyed, sources said.

The talks were earlier scheduled to start Monday but had to be postponed as the visiting delegation could not arrive because of disruption of flights due to bad weather conditions.

India and Myanmar inked a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters during the state visit of Myanmars military ruler General Than Shwe in New Delhi in July.

The treaty would enable India get access to insurgents from Indias northeast states operating out of Myanmar and is aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in combating trans-national organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering and smuggling of arms and explosives.