Indian minister issues veiled threat to neighbours, hours after Myanmar offensive

Hours after Indian forces carried out an operation against militants in its northeastern neighbour Myanmar, an Indian minister threatened that the offensive was also 'a message for Pakistan', which lies on its western border.

India "will strike at a place and at a time of our choosing" against all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring “terror intent”, Indian media quoted the minister as saying.

The comments by Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore followed an operation by Indian forces against alleged militant camps inside Myanmar.

Senior army officer Ranbir Singh said the operation "inflicted significant casualties" on the Indian rebels. He said the Indian army "engaged two separate groups of insurgents" in the mountainous forests close to the border with Myanmar.

The offensive came a week after the killing of 20 soldiers in an ambush on a troop convoy in north-east India near the border with Myanmar.

Rathore, a former army officer, said the operation deep inside Myanmar was carried out following “a bold decision” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Indian Army strikes into the heart of militants. A fitting reply to the enemies of the country. Efficient leadership, strong government," he said in a separate tweet in Hindi.

The veiled threat comes days after PM Modi issued statements acknowledged India's interference in the 1971 war.