Insurgency in the Northeast region has been a major cause of concern for the Indian security forces and with New Delhi’s Act East Policy in full swing, it cannot afford to ignore threats posed by insurgents

New Delhi: In a major coordinated operation with the army of Myanmar, Indian Army carried out a three-week-long coordinated action from May 16 in their respective border areas and busted several militant groups operating in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam as part of Operation Sunrise.

In the second phase of Op Sunrise both the armies busted camps of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), the NSCN (Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).

Myanmar shares a 1,640-km border with India and these militants regularly enter into the bordering north-eastern states like Nagaland and Manipur.

Both the countries enjoy good bilateral ties, with India regularly making a push for deeper coordination between the armies of the two nations while guarding the border to stop unwanted elements from entering into the north-east.

During the operation, at least six dozen terrorists belonging to multiple groups and factions were nabbed while several camps were destroyed.

As per the sources, the two sides are expected to launch the third phase of the operation soon depending on actionable intelligence and the ground situation.

Apart from the Indian Army, Assam Rifles also took part in the operation.

In June 2015, India had launched surgical strikes against NSCN(K) militants in areas near the Indo-Myanmar border, after militants killed 18 army men in Manipur.

In the first phase of “Operation Sunrise”, Myanmar-based insurgency group Arakan Army was targeted – a group which has been opposing the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project.

This multi-modal transit transport project is perceived as India's gateway to Southeast Asia.

Both India and Myanmar entered into a framework agreement in April 2008 to initiate the implementation of the project. Once completed, it will help connect the north-eastern state of Mizoram with the Sittwe Port in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Apart from this, India is also planning to extend the Aizawl-Saiha National Highway by 90 km to the international border at the remote Zorinpui.

As per the security agencies till 2018, over 50 insurgent camps from the north-east were operating from Myanmar.