India, Myanmar to take on insurgents

Duggal suggested that a working group at the level of the two Foreign Offices, and including representatives from their security forces, could examine the steps needed to evolve a mechanism so that innocent fishermen from both sides who drifted inadvertently into the territorial waters of the other side might not be put through undue imprisonment.

‘‘All efforts will be made to ensure that the report of this working group is available before the next meeting of the Home Secretaries,’’ a spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said today.

‘‘Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in tackling the activities of insurgents, arms smugglers, drug traffickers and other hostile elements along the India-Myanmar border,’’ he said.

The status of various infrastructure project in Myanmar, particularly in the road and power sectors, which the two countries have agreed to cooperate in, was also reviewed at the meeting. ‘‘These projects would help in economic development of the border areas and would also promote greater movement and interaction of people across the border,’’ the spokesman said.

Myanmarese Home Minister Maj Gen Maung Oo, who had a meeting with members of the Indian team, assured Duggal that arms smugglers would be severely punished if caught on their soil. Duggal suggested that in future, issues likely to be discussed at such national-level meetings should be exchanged between the two sides at least three months in advance.