Indian army to provide UN peacekeeping training to Myanmar
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By Staff | Friday, 04 August 2017
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As part of training exchange program, the Indian Army has committed to send two Mobile Training Teams to train personnel of the Myanmar Army every year, for a total of five years. Towards this end, the UN Peacekeeping Course, a training cooperation between the Indian Armed Forces and Myanmar Armed Forces commenced Thursday at Nay Pyi Taw.
Indian soldiers take part in a drill during a training exercise at the army school Yol cantt in Himachal Pradesh, India, in 2011. The Indian army will reportedly conduct joint exercises with Myanmar and Maldives in the coming months. Photo - EPAIndian soldiers take part in a drill during a training exercise at the army school Yol cantt in Himachal Pradesh, India, in 2011. The Indian army will reportedly conduct joint exercises with Myanmar and Maldives in the coming months. Photo - EPA
According to the Ministry of External Affairs press release, the program aims at training officers as well as troops in various UN peacekeeping roles and tasks. Two such programs have been conducted earlier by the Indian Army for the Myanmar armed forces.
The present program, which is the third in a series, will train 30 officers of the Myanmar armed forces. The training covers various aspects of peacekeeping, including humanitarian relief operations, rebuilding infrastructure, providing civilian police support, monitoring borders and supporting electoral processes, said the statement.
“Joint training and military courses have often been the major component of initiatives aimed at fostering better ties with countries in the nation’s immediate neighborhood,” added the statement.
Meanwhile, the Times of India, quoting a top army officer, reported that the Indian army is all set to conduct joint exercises with two South East Asian countries – Myanmar and Maldives – in the coming months.
“The exercises will either be conducted in Pune or in Belgaum in the coming months. The location is yet to be finalised,” the officer said. The exercises will provide an opportunity to foster jointmanship and interoperability between the defence forces of the countries, the army officer added, but the paper did not mention the name of the officer.
A senior army officer, who has served extensively in the northeast region, told paper over phone: “One must understand the importance of Myanmar as it shares 1,624-km border with India’s northeast states. Also, many insurgent groups, which are actively engaged in anti-national activities, are holed up in Myanmar. As a result, developing cordial relations with Myanmar is of paramount importance for India,” added the Times of India.
