India Sends Top Defence Officials to Myanmar After Drone Strike

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A high-level visit following recent security developments, senior Indian military officials visited Myanmar this week following a targeted drone strike on insurgent camps operating across the international border.  visit followed by heightened military activity along India’s northeastern frontier. and maintain stability in a region long plagued by separatist violence.

The Indian delegation was led by Lieutenant General Shrinjay Pratap Singh, Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), who met with Myanmar’s Deputy Junta Chief Soe Win in Naypyitaw. The talks, according to Myanmar’s state-controlled media, focused on enhancing military cooperation, joint efforts for border security, and India’s support for post-earthquake recovery in the country. Although official details were limited, the timing of the visit signals a deliberate follow-up to the Indian Army’s drone operation carried out just days earlier.

That operation, conducted on Sunday, targeted camps of the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, specifically in Nanyun and Lahe townships. ULFA-I, a separatist outfit that has fought for an independent Assam state in northeastern India, claimed that over 100 drones were used in the attack,  a figure that has not been confirmed by Indian officials. According to a statement by ULFA-I, five of its members, including senior commanders, were killed, and 19 others were wounded.

India shares a 1,600-kilometre porous border with Myanmar, making it a challenging terrain for cross-border security enforcement. For years, separatist groups from Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur have exploited the remote jungle terrain in Sagaing to establish bases and launch attacks into Indian territory. The Indian military has increasingly sought to neutralise these threats with precision operations such as this recent strike.

While the Indian government has not officially confirmed whether Myanmar’s military authorities were informed in advance, the level of coordination suggested by the visit implies some level of diplomatic communication.. Local sources cited by The Irrawaddy claimed that bombs landed near schools and villages, causing alarm, though no civilian casualties were recorded. A resident told The Irrawaddy, “There was no warning. The attack came suddenly, and it felt like the world had collapsed.”

This visit marks a reinforcement of India’s resolve to protect its borders and dismantle militant networks operating beyond its territory. The visit follows the drone strike and coincides with ongoing regional security discussions to engage with regional powers in maintaining security and asserting its strategic interests in a volatile cross-border landscape.