Author: Abhinandan Mishra
Publication: Sunday-guardian.com
Date: June 13, 2015
URL:   http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/china-pak-narco-nexus-behind-manipur-terror

A part of Myanmar territory is being used as a production, transportation hub by the Pakistan army-PLA narco-alliance partners.

Indian intelligence agencies have gathered evidence that suggest that the top leadership of the insurgent group NSCN-Khaplang, which was involved in the killing of 18 Indian Armymen in Manipur, have been in touch with elements of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) that maintain close contacts with the Pakistan army, especially the secret units dealing with the narcotics trade. The PLA is riddled with officers loyal to Jiang Zemin, who was President of China from 1993 to 2003, and who (in the manner of Russia's Boris Yeltsin) presided over a corrupt regime which generated millionaires by the hour. As for the Pakistan army, it has long controlled both the narcotics as well as the related hawala trade in South Asia, and takes the assistance of corrupt elements in the PLA, who control several warlords operating in western and northern Myanmar. Interestingly, after Chinese President Xi Jinping launched his attack on corruption a year ago, including in the military, the Jiang faction has been seeking his downfall.

A part of Myanmar territory is being used as a production and transportation hub by the Pakistan army-PLA narco-alliance partners. Sources aware of the development said that in wake of the recent attack, more evidence has been gathered that will make it clear that the territory in the southern parts of China host several Northeast militant outfits. Intelligence agencies say that such activity cannot take place without help from elements in the PLA inimical to President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for closer relations. They point out that these pro-ISI elements engineered a border standoff last September to embarrass President Xi on his visit to India. They are bitterly opposed to the Chinese President's anti-corruption drive, as this will impact the flourishing narcotics trade done in partnership with the Pakistan army.

"The gathering of evidence of links to elements in China of northeastern militant groups is being done under the supervision of Doval (National Security Adviser Ajit Doval), which signifies the importance of the exercise. The Prime Minister's Office has also asked the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to collate evidence that can be presented to the Chinese leadership," an official stated. It may be mentioned that in September 2014, Prime Minister Modi succeeded in ensuring that PLA elements which had entered Indian territory withdrew "because of the excellent relationship he shares with President Xi".

According to sources, some of this evidence, including phone transcripts between personnel of PLA still loyal to the Jiang Zemin faction and members of NSCN-Khaplang was also shared with the Myanmar officials in the second week of April.

Sources also said that the "cooperation" between such elements in the PLA and with the militant outfits was shared with China during the recent bilateral meetings, including during NSA Doval's meeting with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi in New Delhi in March and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in May. However, for the record, Beijing has denied any role in facilitating groups operating in the Northeast, including those responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers, which operation is known to have been richly rewarded in hard currency by the ISI upon completion.

Such funds have ensured that the leaders of the insurgency in the Northeast, as also that in Kashmir, are multi-millionaires, whose families live abroad in five-star luxury.

In the wake of this, the NSCS has been asked to collect more evidence, which can nail the complicity of PLA elements so that the same can be used in future talks. "We already know that Pakistani controllers and Chinese logistics providers had prodded nine militant organisations to come together and float a joint forum called United National Liberation Front of Western South Asia (UNLFWSA), which is working under the leadership of United Liberation Front of Asom's Paresh Barua," the official said.

While S.S. Khaplang, who leads a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, is seen as the chairman of the UNLFWSA, officials believe that it is Barua who is its operational command. Intelligence agencies in the recent past have tracked the presence of Barua at Ruili in Yunnan province of China, although this too is denied by Beijing.