Myanmar refutes Indian claim of Army Op, Oppn blasts govt

Media reports citing sources reported that Indian soldiers had crossed into Myanmar and killed some 15 militants who escaped across the border, in a joint operation with the neighbouring country.

While Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that Indian Army's operation in Myanmar to kill Northeast militants, responsible for Manipur ambush, "shows a change in mindset", Myanmar has said that it does not provide a safe haven to terrorists.

In a Facebook post on 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 India-Myanmar border."

"Myanmar will not accept any foreigner who attacks neighbouring countries in the back and creates problems by using our own territory," he added.

While Myanmar denied Indian soldiers entering its soil, Parrikar without naming Pakistan directly,  said, "Those people who fear India's new posture are reacting."

Pakistan, however, warned India on Wednesday that it won't tolerate any such "misadventure" inside its territory.

"Pakistan is not Myanmar, and India should not think of repeating such an exercise inside Pakistani territory," Pakistan interior minister Nisar Ali Khan told mediapersons on Wednesday.

The Indian opposition blasted the government meanwhile.

Congress leader Anand Sharma called the statements by Parrikar as boastful and silly.

"You are not entering into a WWF match. Earlier governments had maturity and sobriety to not beat drums," he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah ‏tweeted: "All the chest thumping did is force Myanmar to deny the Op ever took place on their soil thus proving totally counterproductive."

He called it a self-goal by the government saying: "What an amazing self goal!!! Next time you have a good covert Op, let the Op speak for itself & leave the chest thumping for the campaigns."

According to media details that surfaced on Wednesday, Units of Army's 21 Para Special Forces in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF) undertook the operation of attacking militants inside Myanmar following the Manipur ambush where Northeast insurgents killed 18 soldier of 6 Dogra Regiment.

On Tuesday, Major General Ranbir Singh, Additional Director General of Military Operations (A) said: "You are all aware that following the attack on our security personnel on 04 June 2015 in Chandel, Manipur, we have been on a high alert. In the course of the last few days, credible and specific intelligence was received about further attacks that were being planned within our territory. These attacks were to be carried out by some of the groups involved in earlier attacks on our security personnel and their allies. "

"In view of the imminent threat, an immediate response was necessary. Based on intelligence, we conducted operations to counter these planned assaults. Early this morning, the Indian Army engaged two separate groups of insurgents along the Indo- Myanmar border at two locations, along the Nagaland and Manipur borders. Significant casualties have been inflicted on them. As a consequence, threats to our civilian population and security forces were averted," Singh had said.

He had said India and Myanmar authorities are in touch with each other over the issue.

"We are in communication with the Myanmar authorities on this matter. There is a history of close cooperation between our two militaries. We look forward to working with them to combat such terrorism," he had said.

In what is being described as the worst casualties of the Army, 18 soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer were killed and at least 11 injured when militants ambushed their convoy in Manipur's Chandel district last week.