INDIA'S INTERESTSTackling militancy in the NorthEastIndia needs Myanmar's help to contain militant groups operating from across the border in the Northeast. Since the launch of Operation Goldenbird in 1995, Myanmar's ruling junta has cracked down on militants of the NSCN(I-M), NSCN(K), ULFA and the PLA to prevent them from setting up training camps in their territory. At least thrice between 2002 and 2005, the Burmese army suffered serious casualties while hunting down Indian militants in the Sagaing division across Nagaland. It has also put a check on arms supply to Indian militants from Thailand border via Myanmar Economic interestsGood ties with Myanmar are part of New Delhi’s ‘Look East’ policy, which is intended to increase trade between India and Southeast Asia and check Chinese influence in the region*Trade between India and Myanmar has gone up from $87.4 million in 1990-91 to $569 million in 2005-06*Since 1998, India has extended more than $100 million in credit to the Myanmarese regime*India emerged as Myanmar’s second largest market after Thailand, absorbing 25% of the country's total exports Key projectsKaladan project: The $100 million Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project is expected to provide an alternative route for transport of goods to the Northeast. The Kaladan project is meant to link Sittwe port in Myanmar via Paletwa to Mizoram in India by road and inland water. The Government of India will bear the cost of the entire project and it was scheduled to be completed in three yearsGas links*Myanmar has 300 billion cubic meters of gas reserves, and India is drawing up pipeline routes to transport this gas to the Northeast. GAIL and ONGC Videsh Ltd are involved in the process*Early this year, India lost a bid to export gas from Myanmar when the junta decided to sell gas from the A-1 and A-3 blocks to China for its support in the UN. Not to be outdone this time, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora visited Myanmar in September to witness the signing of contracts for three offshore exploration blocks (AD-2, AD-3 and AD-9) that ONGC Videsh Ltd got after much persuasion Other transport projects*Upgradation of Yangon-Mandalay railway line*India has contributed $27 million to the building of the 160-kilometre Tamu-Kalewa highway in Myanmar's Sagaing Division*Moreh-Bagan-Maesot trilateral highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand
