Expressing concern over the problems of militancy and insurgency in the northeast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday said peace was needed in the region.

"It is imperative that permanent peace is established in the northeast," said Singh, who is on a visit to the region.

He was addressing the army and the Indo Tibetan Border Police soldiers in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh.

While seeking to boost the morale of soldiers braving hostile weather conditions in inhospitable terrains on the border with China and Myanmar, Singh said apart from guarding the borders, they were fighting terrorism and insurgency.

"This is a challenging task," he said.