A series of alleged cross-border drone strikes by Indian military forces inside Myanmar early Sunday morning has triggered widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about violations of international law and regional sovereignty.
According to Indian media reports, the operation occurred between 2 AM and 4 AM on July 13, involving over 150 Israeli-made drones targeting bases of the banned separatist group United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, a stronghold believed to house ULFA-I’s Eastern Command headquarters.
In an official statement, ULFA-I claimed that the strikes killed at least three senior commanders, including Lieutenant General Nayan Medhi, alias Nayan Asom. The group further alleged that a subsequent missile strike during his funeral killed two more top leaders—Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom. Nineteen others, including civilians, were reportedly injured.
ULFA-I condemned the strikes as an “act of aggression by Indian occupational forces” and vowed retaliation. The group also claimed ongoing Indian military activity along the Indo-Myanmar border stretching from Longwa in Nagaland to Pangsai Pass in Arunachal Pradesh—though these claims remain unverified.
Despite the ULFA-I’s detailed account and extensive media coverage, the Indian Ministry of Defence has denied any involvement. Senior army officials stationed in Guwahati and Nagaland also stated they had no knowledge of such operations.
Sources familiar with the mission, however, told reporters that it was a covert operation supervised by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, carried out without formal acknowledgment from the defence ministry. Camps belonging to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), an insurgent group from Manipur, were also reportedly targeted.
Concerns Over Sovereignty and Militarization
Security analysts and regional observers are alarmed by the strike, describing it as a continuation of India’s increasingly assertive military posture in South Asia. A regional security expert warned that this latest action represents a “blatant violation of Myanmar’s sovereignty and the UN Charter.”
"This mirrors India's evolving strategy of unilateral military operations without diplomatic transparency," the analyst said. "It reflects a broader shift toward a more aggressive, militarized foreign policy under Prime Minister Modi."
Critics argue the strikes may have been timed to deflect attention from challenges facing India’s domestic counter-insurgency efforts under “Operation Sundoor.” Some analysts interpret the Myanmar operation as an attempt to reassert military strength amid growing criticism at home.
India's strained relations with several neighbors—Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—have intensified concerns that New Delhi’s foreign policy is becoming increasingly hegemonic. "This strike will only deepen regional instability," said one diplomatic source.
The episode is drawing international attention, with calls from regional experts and observers for global powers and institutions to step in. "If left unchecked, India’s escalating cross-border military actions could push South Asia closer to a broader conflict," warned one observer.
This is the second drone strike reportedly launched by Indian forces against ULFA-I targets in Myanmar in just over a year. A similar, though less deadly, attack was reported in January 2024.
As of now, Myanmar’s military junta has not issued a formal response. The country’s ongoing civil war has severely limited the central government’s control over remote border areas such as Sagaing, allowing Indian insurgent groups to operate relatively freely in the region.
ULFA-I has vowed to retaliate, signaling that tensions in the India-Myanmar border zone could intensify further in the days to come.
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