Indian military unhappy with US access to northeast

Defence personnel are concerned about the former National Democratic Alliance government's decision to allow the US military access to the northeast.

The frequent visits to the northeast by US diplomats and soldiers are seen here as a serious breach in security that could facilitate the identification of India's "politico-military assets" and allow the physical verification of satellite photographs with ground positions, defence sources say.

Top Indian defence officials have sent messages voicing reservations about allowing the US or any other country access to the northeast. It has been pointed out at length that military cooperation with the US would be far more advantageous for the other country than for India.

Sensitive zone

Sources said that the US interest in the northeastern region was never hidden and efforts had been on for at least six to eight years to persuade India to allow it entry into the sensitive zone.

The doors were opened by the NDA government with former US ambassador Robert Blackwill being the first foreign dignitary to be allowed to visit the strategic Nathu La pass in Sikkim.

The US even offered assistance directly to the Assam and Nagaland governments in the wake of terrorist violence in the state.

Jungle warfare

New Delhi reacted adversely to the offer of help with the government and the Left parties taking objection to US Ambassador David Mulford's letter to the state government in October instead of routing it through the federal government.

The NDA government overrode military objections to open the counter insurgency and jungle warfare school (CIJWS) at Vairengte in Mizoram for the low intensity training of US soldiers in guerrilla warfare.

Military top brass had resisted this pressure but in March this year 100 American infantry soldiers trained there for three weeks.

This is still a cause of concern in the defence services, but the United Progressive Alliance government has not reversed the decision that allows the US full access to what was regarded as top-secret training by the Indian Army.

- The Asian Age