YANGON: In a statement that can send shock waves across India,Myanmar on Wednesday denied media reports that Indian forces had attacked insurgents inside its territory.
Myanmar while denying the attack also said that it would not tolerate rebel groups using its soil to attack neighbours.
Earlier on Tuesday New Delhi said its forces had hunted down a rebel group operating in the mountainous forests of Manipur state, close to Myanmar s long western border.
The fighters were allegedly involved in the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in an ambush last week.
The Indian press cited sources as saying soldiers had crossed into Myanmar and killed some 15 militants who escaped across the border, after coordination between the two countries.
But New Delhi insisted the operation took place on its side of the border only.
In a Facebook post Wednesday Zaw Htay, director of Myanmar s presidential office, backed up that assertion.
“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,” he said.
“Myanmar will not accept any foreigner who attacks neighbouring countries in the back and creates problems by using our own territory,” he added.
It must be noted that in Indian government in a carefully worded statement on said that “Early this (Tuesday) 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 have been averted,” the statement said.
“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,” the statement said.
Soon after announcing the attack, Indian minister for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore warned that India’s recent strikes in Myanmar were a message to all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring “terror intent” towards India.
