Kaladan: ‘No impact of Myanmar coup or threat from Arakan Army’

Project also helps counter China’s expanding influence in region, says official

There is no impact of the coup in Myanmar on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Transit Project (KMMPTT) linking the northeast to Myanmar and there is also no threat from the Myanmar-based insurgent group Arakan Army, officials on the ground said. “Of late, there has been no incident where the Arakan Army has tried to disturb or hinder the progress of the Kaladan project. The project is progressing as per the timelines now,” said Brig. Digvijay Singh, Assam Rifles Commander in Mizoram. “It is always supported by the local people in Myanmar as development in the Rakhine State is a little less. So this road will certainly bring a lot of prosperity and business opportunities for those people.” In early 2019, in a two-week long coordinated operation with the Indian Army, the Myanmar army destroyed 10-12 camps of the insurgent group which set up camps in Rakhine area and posed a threat to the KMMTTP. In November 2019, it abducted five Indians from the project site, one of whom died of cardiac arrest while in custody.