India and Burma continue to forge closer ties in various areas, including security. On Tuesday, even as foreign minister S.M. Krishna and his visiting Burma counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin reiterated that the two countries can cooperate in this arena, the government said that it has sought the help of Burma to check insurgent groups in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Manipur.

The insurgent outfits often seek shelter in and train in the neighbouring country. Burma’s help was sought during the 17th national-level meeting between India and Burma last week. Union home secretary R.K. Singh, who led the Indian delegation, drew the attention of the Burma delegation to the camps and training facilities of Indian insurgent groups on Burma soil and sought its cooperation in dealing with them.
Stressing on the security aspect prior to delegation-level talks led by him and his counterpart from Burma here on Tuesday Mr Krishna said, “Our security interests are inter-twined with Burma.” Mr Lwin reciprocated this statement by acknowledging that he was looking forward to enhancing bilateral ties, including in the field of security.
India’s foreign minister also said, “We have a traditional and civilisational relationship with Burma, Our trade links have been very ancient...we give the highest importance to our bilateral relationship and would like to enlarge our relationship in various spheres.”
Apart from security, other areas tagged for enhancing bilateral relations by the Burma foreign minister were in the areas of political and socio-economic development.