Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing on Monday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his country’s soil will not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks to boost bilateral relations in trade, defense and energy sectors. Aung Hlaing is on a five-day visit to India. He is visiting India less than two months after becoming the President after the parliamentary elections in Myanmar.
These elections were held in December and January after years of protests against the ruling military junta. The military junta ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1, 2021.
India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway
Both sides also stressed the importance of working together to complete the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. Responding to a question about Suu Kyi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the Prime Minister raised the issue with the visiting President and the discussion was mainly in the context of the ongoing peace process in Myanmar.
Our engagement with Myanmar
Clarifying India’s consistent stand on the issue, the Foreign Secretary said that India has been supporting sustainable peace, inclusiveness and the need to bring all stakeholders to the table. He said that it was an open and informal discussion. I would like to emphasize that our engagement with Myanmar is not intended to comment on the internal political system of that country.
Also raised the issue of armed groups
Misri said that Prime Minister Modi also raised the issue of armed groups operating from Myanmar. Misri said that the Prime Minister emphasized that these militant groups are continuing their activities in the areas near our borders. In response, operations conducted by the Myanmar military against these groups are also often very close to the border.
Impact on people living in Indian part
Misri said, ‘As a result, people living on the Indian side of the border are affected. Sometimes there may be damage or disruption in those areas. As you have also mentioned, large numbers of refugees sometimes enter India from the other side of the border. Misri said border fencing work was underway and designated entry points and check posts would be set up at several locations.
Misri said the talks between the two sides focused on the full range of bilateral issues, including trade and economic relations, defense and security issues, border management, development assistance and regional situations. Both sides expressed interest in enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, health, education, energy and critical technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
India’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty
The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and both sides stressed the importance of preventing misuse of sovereign territory to prevent activities that are detrimental to their security interests. He said that the President of Myanmar specifically reiterated that Myanmar’s territory will not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests.
Partnership between both sides will be strong
Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbors and shares a 1,640-km border with several north-eastern states, including insurgency-hit Nagaland and Manipur. Misri said that overall, this visit of the President of Myanmar has once again reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to deepen their long-term partnership and work together for mutual benefit, development and prosperity in the region.
President Hlaing will go to Mumbai today
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Aung Hlaing on Sunday and discussed major issues related to bilateral relations. A high-level delegation has also accompanied the Myanmar leader, which includes several cabinet ministers, senior officials and industrialists. President Hlaing will visit Mumbai today.
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