Imphal, Aug. 27 : A six-day Indo-Myanmar border liaison meet that began at Kalemyo in the neighbouring country today will focus on checking smuggling of arms, drugs and movement of militants.
This is the 37th such meeting to be held on both sides of the border in the past few years.
A 14-member delegation left for Myanmar today, Assam Rifles public relations officer Lt Col Prasant W. stated here. The delegates are scheduled to return here on August 31.
The delegation is being led by Maj. Gen. S.S. Pawar, chief of staff, headquarters 3 Corps, and assisted by Brig. Balbir Singh, Commander, 26 Sector, and Col Vijay Sahgal, colonel general staff of headquarters, Inspector General Assam Rifles (South). The meet is a landmark event where representatives of both the armies interact and co-ordinate border management activities. It helps to strengthen friendship between the two countries.
No details have been given on the agenda of the meeting, but sources said it would focus on cross-border smuggling of arms and drugs and movement of militants.
Security forces on this side of the border have been claiming that Manipur rebels take shelter in Myanmar. Intelligence reports also say that drugs and arms continue to sneak into Manipur.
The meeting is also significant in view of the steps taken by Delhi to fence the border.
Union home secretary G.K. Pillai had announced during his recent visit to Manipur that work on a 10km fence at Moreh in Chandel district would begin this year. The two countries conduct border trade through Moreh town.
Pillai said a plan to fence the entire Indo-Myanmar border had got delayed because of the lack of a clearly demarcated boundary line.