Crossfire War – Islamabad – Beijing – Tehran Watch – South – Southeast Asia Theatre: Beijing – Tehran – Islamabad – Kabul – Dhaka – Rangoon/Delhi; Unknown Militant Unit in Manipur State – Ne India Kill 15 Soldiers in India Reserve Battalion – Delhi Sends Reinforcements – Largest Attack in Five Years
Night Watch: IMPHAL – Indo-Asian News Service has just reported the largest attack against Indian forces in Manipur state, bordering Burma (Myanmar) in five years by an unknown militant group. Firing heavy automatic weapons, the militants ambushed a routine convoy of an Indian Reserve Battalion, an anti-insurgency police commando force. The action took place near a village in Bishenpur district. A spokesman for the unit stated, “The Indian Reserve Battalion was on a routine patrol when the convoy came under heavy gunfire from automatic weapons. The militants laid the ambush from atop a hill. The rebels were on an advantageous position and fired at the convoy indiscriminately for about 15-20 minutes, leaving no scope for retaliation.” [XINHUA]
There are 19 different militant-separatists units operating in northeastern India for about 20 years resulting in the death of 10,000 people. But last year the activity increased dramatically, which is why I have to suspect they are receiving more international support than ever before from India’s main enemies, Iran-Pakistan-China. Beijing can easily open doors for Tehran-Islamabad to Rangoon, the military dictatorship that has controlled Burma (Myanmar) since 1962, the same year China invaded India’s province of Arunachal Pradesh just north of the battle that just took place in Manipur. Late last year crossfirewar.com reported the statement from Beijing’s Ambassador to Delhi that northeastern India is Chinese territory.
It is no coincidence the firefight happened right after Pakistan the President General Pervez Musharraf presented his “Action Plan” earlier this month to Tehran’s government on his nine nation tour. Every government assisting Pakistan intends to benefit economically by a redrawn map of India, after the war. Delhi is rushing reinforcements of military and paramilitary units to Manipur. India has long had excellent relations with Burma, however, that may be over.
www.crossfirewar.com
