NEW DELHI: Stating that it will not tolerate rebel groups using its soil to attack neighbours, Myanmar has rebutted reports that the Indian army attacked militants inside its territory.
According to reports, Zaw Htay, director of Myanmar's presidential office, said that, as per the information sent by Myanmar army's local battalions, the military operation by the Indian army was carried out on the Indian side of the border.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday directed Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, to travel to Manipur to take stock of the situation there.
The Prime Minister's directive came a day after the army engaged two separate groups of militants along the Indo-Myanmar border after an ambush in Manipur left 18 army personnel dead, with a further 11 injured.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that the operations were necessary in light of intelligence reports, which warned of militants planning attacks on Indian soil.
The statement further appreciated the cooperation shared between the armies of India and Myanmar, assuring that any security threat to the nation will be met with a ‘firm response’.
However, certain media reports had stated that the operations had been carried inside Myanmar territory.