8(b)

Examine Indias issue of cross border terrorism with

Myanmar, highlighting its geographical basics.
Structure: -
Frontiers of British India and Myanmar came together first time in 1826
after British won 1st Anglo Burmese war. After Independence, The
boundary was demarcated in 1967 under an agreement signed by both
countries. There were many border agreements between these two years
in which borders were fluctuating and this has created confusion.
The location of the Indo-Myanmar boundary throws up many
challenges for the effective management of the boundary. Though the
boundary is properly demarcated, there are a few pockets that are
disputed.
The rugged terrain makes movement and the overall development of
the area difficult.
The internal dynamics of the region in terms of the clan loyalties of
the tribal people, inter-tribal clashes, insurgency, and trans border
ethnic ties also adversely affect the security of the border areas.
There is practically no physical barrier along the border either in the
form of fences or border outposts and roads to ensure strict vigil.
Insurgents make use of the poorly guarded border and flee across
when pursued by Indian security forces. Close ethnic ties among the
tribes such as Nagas, Kukis, Chin, etc., who live astride the border
help these insurgents in finding safe haven in Myanmar.
These cross-border ethnic ties have facilitated in creation of safe
havens for various northeast insurgent groups in Myanmar.

The location of the boundary at the edge of the Drugs golden triangle
facilitates the unrestricted illegal flows of drugs into Indian territory.
Heroin is the main item of drug trafficking. The bulk of heroin enters
India through the border town of Moreh in Manipur. It is reported that
the local insurgent groups are actively involved in drugs and arms
trafficking.
Work for Fence erection and road building is going on, but at times it is
interrupted because of opposition.
Northeast India shares borders with three weak states, all of which have
provided sanctuary to Indian terrorist groups. Myanmar, Bangladesh,
and Bhutan share over 4,500 miles of border territory with varying levels
of security.
Many borders lack clear demarcation and are culturally porous, with
similar ethnic groups occupying both sides of the boundary, making it
easy for cross border absorption and assimilation. Nearly all of the
Indian terror groups operating in the Northeast have international
camps that provide sanctuary, training, and external support.
Many groups commit attacks then cross the border into their
international safe haven. India has worked on strengthening
relationships with these border states in an attempt to combat terrorism,
however, the states are relatively weak and not fully able to patrol and
eliminate groups in the rugged periphery of their country.
Indian intelligence agencies and court records also report that foreign
rivals, particularly Pakistan, take advantage of porous borders to provide
training to separatist groups. By assisting separatist groups, Pakistan
helps divert attention away from the terrorism prone region of Kashmir,
where it has substantial interests, while also weakening Indias security
resources.
Indias relationship with its eastern neighbors of Myanmar, Bhutan, and
Bangladesh has improved substantially in the past few years. Myanmar
and India have established border agreements to address drug
trafficking. In 2015, India and Bhutan announced an agreement to
increase the Bhutanese military presence on the border in exchange for a
hydroelectric project in the region.
Indias recent border cooperation with Bangladesh helped deliver a
substantial blow to one of Indias strongest terrorist groups, the ULFA.
Tensions between India and Pakistan remain elevated. Nonetheless,
these recent agreements have helped decrease the total number of
attacks in northeast India.
The physical environment plays a significant role in nurturing terrorist
movements in Northeast India and around the world. Rugged terrain,
particularly forested regions, makes counterterrorism especially difficult.
Rugged terrain on international borders makes counterterrorism nearly
impossible for even the strongest militaries.