Involvement of Northeast Indian insurgents in the Myanmar conflict

Starting shortly after the British withdrawal from India in 1947, the seven states have been subject to usually violent clashes between the Indian Army with the counterinsurgent and paramilitary Assam Rifles against dozens of secessionist groups.

[3] In response, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sought to make Myanmar a neutral country so it would not arm the small Naga insurgency.

[5] Starting in 1956, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), China, and possibly the Yunnan-based Blackhouse mafia began supplying weaponry and aid to the Naga National Council, Mizo National Front, Sengkrak of Tripura, United Liberation Front of Asom, and later the People's Liberation Army of Manipur through Burma and Bhutan, with Naga insurgents receiving arms and training in East Pakistan (until 1971).

[7] In 1963, one of the largest Naga rebel columns, led by Dusoi Chakesang, traveled to East Pakistan through the Chin Hills.

In the later 1960s Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi began improving relations with Burmese dictator Ne Win, leading to the Tatmadaw agreeing to crack down on Naga and Mizo rebels heading to China for training.

These include the: In the mid 1980s, primarily due to its leader S. S. Khaplang, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) had established good relations with several Indian insurgent groups, with the NSCN allowing groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA-M) to maintain bases in north Sagaing Region.

[12] The same year India's foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), reached out to the KIA, Chin National Front, and several other Burmese insurgent groups to request that the armies would stop harbouring Indian militants in their territory.

[16] After this, the Assam Rifles and the Myanmar military clashed with the cadres several times while they moved deeper into Burmese territory.

[citation needed] On 4 May, India announced that the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding was being given to Nobel Peace Prize winner and pro-democracy politician Aung San Suu Kyi.

In response, the military junta of Myanmar withdrew from the front and released "scores" of detained militants,[17] allowing the besieged rebel column to escape and eventually make it to Manipur.

Nandy, a Myanmar rights activist based in India, claimed that "the Tatmadaw don't attack the powerful Manipuri or Assamese guerrillas who pay off the generals."

[22] Meitei rebel groups such as the People's Liberation Army of Manipur were involved in aiding the Myanmar military junta in cracking down on protests and fighting the PDF.

[23] The Zomi Revolutionary Army frequently clashes with the Chinland Defense Force, with alleged aid by the military junta.

"[24] Eventually, the ZRA signed a peace treaty with the Chin National Army, but still officially remain neutral with the military junta.