Beyond the Borders - A Reality Check

The situation of NE no 1. the Stilwell road is unlikely to happen because of security fears of India and Burma from insurgent groups and Kachins. The road in India side is NH 153 but Burma side is in very bad shape - just a dirt track! ESCAP will have to fund millions of dollars to make it an international highway.No. 2 the Railway link through Manipur is not happening because of the very bad security experience of India after opening the road through Moreh-Tamu to Kalewa. No 3. The Mizoram to Sittwe port link is running into rough weather because of Chinese interference. They want Sittwe for pumping oil to China. And Bangladesh has refused any transit to NE.The situation is very bleak and grim as usual for us. If you agree I think this is the time to examine ourselves to introspect what we did wrong. It very difficult to survive in the modern world cut-off from all our neighbours without any economic co-operation. But we have to be strong like our forefathers and find a way. We will have to find solutions to our own problems. We cannot expect outsiders to do things for us. Btw its fortunate that we have WW2 history in our home where men from faraway lands came here and turned 'Defeat into Victory'. When I told some American friends about the most amazing 'Stilwell Road' they were very surprised and inspired and want to know more. There are enormous challenges in this region of the world and though I dont like Stallone's way of solving them, I think I still like when John Rambo says "Live for nothing and die for something".

Moving on to Arunachal the situation is still very unclear because of the unsettled boundary issue between India and China. The game of incursions cat and mouse is still going on and this does not do any good to the relations between the two countries notwithstanding the increasing trade volumes. Really it must be tough to be an Arunachalee with such an added burden of psychological pressure.