Myanmar operation involved 70 commandos, more such hot pursuits not ruled out

New Delhi/Guwahati: Even as a Union government minister — in a highly controversial move — officially “confirmed” that Army troops did enter Myanmar to attack militants based there, defence sources said more such cross-border anti-terror attacks by the Army on militants based in Myanmar are not ruled out in future, adding that the rebels are likely to shift base from their current locations following Tuesday’s assault.

While one government minister on Tuesday night, in a clear hint at Pakistan, said the cross-border raid is undoubtedly a message to all nations that harbour any terror intentions, be it the western frontier or elsewhere, and that “even if there are groups within a country that harbour terror intentions, we will choose the time and place of hitting them”, another government minister on Wednesday said “this (the Myanmar raid) is a lesson and a message to all the terror groups that India will not hesitate in going beyond its geographical borders to eliminate terrorists”. Amid fears that the Indian government’s confirmation of the cross-border raid could have ended up upsetting and embarrassing the Myanmar Army and government globally, Myanmar on Wednesday denied that Indian forces had attacked insurgents in its territory but added it would not tolerate rebel groups using its soil to attack neighbours. National security adviser Ajit Doval will also visit Myanmar soon to discuss further joint action against insurgents.

According to reports, the raid was carried out by a crack team of about 70 commandos of the Indian Army who finished the operation within 40 minutes. Commandos of 21 Para (Army Special Forces), equipped with assault rifles, rocket launchers, grenades and night-vision goggles, were airdropped for the operation just inside Indian territory, near the border with Myanmar. Once on the ground, the contingent split into two groups and headed for two militant camps, being run by the NSCN(K) and KYKL. The teams trekked through the thick jungles for at least five km before they reached the militants’ training camps and destroyed them, the reports said.

Read: Indian Army's Myanmar operation a message to other neighbours, says Union Minister

In what appears to be a move to ensure smooth ties with Myanmar, the Indian ambassador there, Mr Gautam Mukhopadhaya, also “reviewed” the post-operation situation with senior officials of the Myanmar government in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, sources said. Government sources said India has invoked the May 2014 border agreement with Myanmar on border cooperation that provided for a framework for security cooperation and exchange of information between security agencies of the two countries.

Indian defence sources, meanwhile, sounded a word of caution, saying any extension of the cross-border strategy to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would be a totally different ball-game since Pakistan is a nuclear-armed nation and the Pakistan Army is also active on the LoC. Even so far as Tuesday’s cross-border raids into Myanmar were concerned, the Army carried out the anti-terror attacks only after it was satisfied that it would be logistically sound even though it was — as some reports suggest — asked by some in the government whether it could be conducted sooner.

Meanwhile, setting the cat among the pigeons, Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Retd) told a TV channel late Tuesday night, “I think this message is very clear to all those who harbour intentions of terror. Unprecedented though, but our PM has taken a very bold step and given a go-ahead for hot pursuit into Myanmar. We are confirming that the Indian armed forces, the Special Forces, crossed over into Myanmar and carried out strikes in two of the militant camps, annihilating the entire camps, and have returned safely ... The message is that you are no longer safe if you are attacking Indians on Indian soil. Myanmar is a friendly nation and therefore there was complete cooperation if the need required. The operation was carried out by the SF entirely on their own. It is undoubtedly a message to all nations that harbour any intentions, be it the west (western frontier) or the specific country we went into right now. Even if there are groups within a country that harbour terror intentions, we will choose the time and place of hitting them.”

Read: Myanmar covert operation: Decision to strike militants taken on June 4, over 38 insurgents killed

But Col. Rathore’s confirmation of the cross-border raid has caused much discomfort in Indian government circles, with sources in both the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the Army of the view that he should have been more circumspect.

In a fresh salvo on Wednesday, Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar was quoted by news agencies as saying, “The military’s action against insurgents, with assistance from the Myanmarese government, speaks volumes about India’s resolve to fight terror. This is a lesson and a message to all the terror groups, that India will not hesitate in going beyond its geographical borders to eliminate terrorists.”

According to an AFP report from Yangon, in a Facebook post Wednesday Zaw Htay, director of Myanmar’s presidential office, said, “According to the information sent by Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) battalions on the ground, we have learned that the military operation was performed on the Indian side at the India-Myanmar border,” adding, “Myanmar will not accept any foreigner who attacks neighbouring countries in the back and creates problems by using our own territory.”

Defence sources said at least 20 militants were killed in Tuesday’s cross-border raid while 11 others had been seriously injured. But some news agency reports put the death toll of militants higher, at about 38.

Read: Jitendra Singh rushes to Manipur to take stock of situation

The plan to carry out surgical strikes against the Northeast militants involved in the killing of 18 Army personnel in Manipur last week was initially discussed at a meeting chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh on June 4 and attended by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, NSA Ajit Doval, Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag and top security and intelligence officials. The exact details of the plan were subsequently finalised at a meeting of NSA Doval and the Army Chief after he returned from his Manipur visit.

According to sources, after the plan was finalised, the NSA took final approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his return from Bangladesh on the night of June 7. During the June 4 meeting there was a view that the strike should be carried out immediately, but the Army required some more time to work out the logistics. It was then decided between the NSA and the Army chief that all details regarding the strike should be “worked out and executed” at the earliest.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of an aerial strike but this was ruled out keeping in mind the possibility of collateral damage. It was also decided to take the Myanmar security agencies into confidence before launching the operation, sources said.

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According to some reports, there were nearly 150 Naga and Meitei militants present in the first camp when the Army’s anti-terror strike began, while nearly 50 militants were present in the second camp when Army commandos reached there. There were also some reports that claimed that NSCN(K) chief and militant leader S.S. Khaplang managed to escape though he was present in the area in Myanmar when the Army operation was launched.

According to news agency reports, Prime Minister Modi has also asked minister of state in the PMO Jitendra Singh to go to Manipur and Nagaland to take stock of the situation there, a visit during which he will interact with various sections.