• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Top Indian Army general visits Bhutan

IRNA

Guwahati, Sept 27, IRNA -- A top Indian army general concluded a 
three-day visit to Bhutan amid reports of the two countries inching 
closer to launching a joint military crackdown on Indian separatist 
bases inside the Himalayan kingdom, officials Saturday said. 
Lieutenant General Jitendra Singh Varma, chief of the Indian 
army`s eastern command, met King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk, Prime 
Minister Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley, and head of the Royal Bhutan Armed 
Forces Goongloen Gongma Lam Dorji during his visit to Thimphu that 
ended Tuesday. 
"The meeting between the Indian general and the Bhutanese 
authorities ranged on various issues of mutual interest and 
importance," a Bhutanese government official told IRNA by telephone 
from Thimphu. 
The visit by the Indian army commander has heightened speculations
about the possibility of a joint offensive to be launched soon to 
smash camps belonging to outlawed rebels from India`s northeastern 
Assam state. 
Two separatist groups from Assam - the outlawed United Liberation 
Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland 
(NDFB) - have well-entrenched bases in Bhutan. The separatist 
Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) from West Bengal is also 
there. 
Media reports quoting federal home ministry officials said the 
King during his visit to New Delhi last week had agreed to allow 
Indian soldiers to flush out militants hiding in its territory in 
collaboration with Bhutanese forces. 
"Moves are underway for launching an offensive and the response 
from the Bhutanese side is also very positive," a federal home 
ministry official said by telephone from New Delhi. 
The Bhutanese Foreign Ministry official said at least 5,000 
soldiers, spread over 20 camps, were guarding areas close to southern 
Bhutan where the Indian rebels have their bases. 
The King during his New Delhi visit invited the rebel leaders to 
hold direct talks with him to pave the way for winding up of their 
bases from Bhutan. 
Indian intelligence officials say there could be more than 4,000 
ULFA and NDFB rebels in Bhutan - both the groups fighting for 
independent homelands in Assam. 
The rebels ignored a June 30 deadline set by Bhutan to vacate 
their camps or face military action. 
/211 
End