New Delhi : Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has spoken to the top Bhutan leadership about cooperation in combating militants in the wake of massacre of tribals in Assam and has been assured support, it was announced here Friday.
“The external affairs minister talked to Bhutanese leadership at the highest level and was assured of support,” said external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
The government has termed the massacre of 73 tribals in Assam earlier this week by militants of a hardline faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)in Assam as an “act of terrorism”.
Asked about the possibility of Bodo militants having taken shelter in neighbouring countries, Akbaruddin said that tackling terrorism was a national endeavour.
He said the government contacts the neighbours if there were such reports. Contact was being established with other countries who can help and the government will share the details later, he added.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said Thursday that central government has taken up with Bhutan and Bangladesh the issue of militants from India’s northeast hiding there.
“We have taken up the matter with the neighbouring countries and one country has assured cooperation, and we are sure the other will also cooperate,” he had said.