The recent statement of the Union Minister for Development of the North East Region (DONER), PR Kyndiah that the North-East Region is no more "sensitive" but "strategic" to not only the entire country but also the neighboring countries---like China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar---has full of sense.

The people of the Northeast region are mostly mongoloid races like that of China, Bhutan, and Myanmar and inhabited in the frontline areas bordering China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Many similarities are there between the people of the Northeast India and the Southeast Asian countries. According to history, most of the northeastern people originated from the central Asia as well.

Therefore it will not be very difficult for the Governments of Myanmar, China, and Bhutan to play politics with India through northeast militants. When the Bangladesh became soft to northeastern militants, where was the question that these Mongoloid governments in neighboring countries would not go soft to them?

Many Naga villages are there in Northwest of Myanmar, so also Meeteis in Myanmar’s Mandalay and Rangoon. The Kukis spread throughout the northeast region as much as Myanmar side. Even numbers of Meetei villages are there in Bangladesh’s Sylhet and Dhaka areas. Because of these existing historical bonds between the people of the northeastern region with the neighboring countries, things have become more complex for New Delhi to tackle the militancy problems of the region.

That is why what the DONER Minister’s describing the region as "strategic" to not only the entire country but also the neighboring countries has undercurrent meanings.

At the same time, India has its security problems with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Unfortunately this largest democratic country in the world is surrounded by monarchical, military and despotic regimes and the current Royal coup in Nepal is more compounded to diplomatic juggernaut of India.

Look the kind of regime in Pakistan where even its own political leaders (Ex-PMs) are not allowed coming in and still in exile. Myanmar needs no explanation about. The Juntas have been ruling the country since 1962. The Bangladesh Government is fragile and Bhutan is a small Kingdom.

These countries surround the northeastern region leaving the chicken neck area in Siliguri like a spinal cord to the rest of the country. There are maximum advantages for the northeast militants in their struggle for sovereignty due to these unfriendly environments prevailing in the neighboring countries.

India has serious concern on China’s increasing naval presence in Myanmar. Myanmar had granted such facilities to China and New Delhi feels that China could use Coco Islands of Myanmar as missile pads against certain Indian targets. This is a great worrisome for India.

New Delhi has been worrying for quite some time, as most of the northeast insurgent organizations have been operating from inside the territories of Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

There have been talks with Yangon, Dhaka and Thimphu not to allow northeast militants using their soil to launch anti-India campaign. The insurgency problems of the region can’t be effectively tackled without the cooperation and support of Myanmar.

New Delhi could convince Thimphu to crack down against ULFA and KLO holed up in its soil. Yangon is currently engaged cracking down northeast militants holed up in their territory. Dhaka is yet to respond to New Delhi’s demand.

Bhutan is a small country and too small to refuse India’s demand but New Delhi just cannot do Bhutan type in neighboring countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh. India will need lot of diplomatic channels and a serious deal is necessary.

Although Yangon had responded by cracking down some of the militant bases holed up in its soil, it is impossible for them to wipe out all because of the vast inaccessible thick forest stretching along the international border. And Bangladesh being a Muslim country will not be that much easy to be convinced by New Delhi just to wipe out northeast militants from its soil. They have their own politics.

We have seen unprecedented swelling up of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the region, spreading like a wildfire, threatening the future demography of the region. So long the illegal Bangladeshi migrants live in this region, it will be foolish for New Delhi to expect Dhaka to crush northeast militants holed up there.

India’s "Look East Policy" which worries actually Beijing because it cut short latter’s expansionist policy with the Southeast Asian countries mainly Myanmar. The Indo-ASEAN car rally has really generated tremendous amount of "goodwill mission" with the Southeast Asian countries.

The idea of "Indo-ASEAN Car Rally" was to make grounds for partnership in the economic developments of the sub-continent and the "Look East Policy" was in that direction and certainly, the northeast region will act as an "Economic bridge" between the rest of the country and the Southeast Asian countries.

The moot point is whether the Government of India is only trying to become closer with the Southeast Asian countries by using northeast region as a "conduit" for its economic development. If so, it will be disastrous in the long run. You cannot have "Look East Policy" or "Indo-ASEAN Car Rally" only to please neighboring countries. But the core issue is how to make the people of the region aware that New Delhi is equally concerned for their security and well-being.

In view of this, Kindiah’s comment on the strategic position of the northeast to not only the neighboring countries but also the whole of the country is correct. But the tragedy is whether the rest of the country is aware of such position prevailing in this highly sensitive part of the country, though the DONER Minister chooses to describe it as no more "sensitive."

The gap between the region and the rest of the country due to prolonged negligence by the Government of India coupled with insurgency problems should be filled up. The Minister for DONER, Kyndiah, who happens to be from the Northeast, should act as a key player towards this.

He should try to keep the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and other key Union Ministers informed time to time about the necessity of the region. He should be able to feed them the correct picture of the region and explain them that a blue print for the long-term development of the whole region is need of the hour.

The "Look East Policy" and "Indo-ASEAN Car rally," are excellent steps of the Government of India for the developments of the Southeast Asian countries but the people of the region are not depending on this but to the Government.

Such (Look East Policy and Indo-ASEAN Car Rally) are secondary and if the region is "strategic" for the entire country as well as neighboring countries, then develop the region at par with the rest of the country. Let them feel the sense of oneness and belongingness and see the result. But you cannot simply call it "strategic" for the country as well as neighboring countries while ignoring the human values of the region.