Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing has assured that he will not allow use of his country’s territory by groups that pose a security threat to Indian interests. The concern was raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted Mr. Hlaing at the Hyderabad House where broad-spectrum conversations were held, including calls for dialogue between the military junta-backed government and the pro-democracy Opposition. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the discussion was “free-wheeling” and included the issue of continued detention of former leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

“The President reiterated Myanmar’s assurance that its territory would not be permitted to be used against India’s security interests. The Prime Minister affirmed that India, as a steadfast and trusted partner of Myanmar, remained committed to deepening security cooperation between the two countries,” a joint statement issued at the end of the official discussion mentioned, indicating that India raised the presence of insurgents from its northeastern region on Myanmar territory. Mr. Misri said later that the matter was raised by Mr. Modi in course of formal talks with the visiting dignitary.

The visit of Mr. Hlaing is being viewed as a pragmatic engagement of Myanmar by India despite the conflict situation that has been continuing in that country since the February 2021 coup that deposed the National League for Democracy (NLD) government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Speaking to the media after the discussion, Mr. Misri mentioned detailed discussion was held during the talks to “find a way” out of the civil conflict, saying that India believes in “sustained dialogue” among all the stakeholders to deal with the conflict in Myanmar. He added that India does not believe in “disengagement” when it comes to Myanmar.

“I should underline that our engagement with Myanmar is not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangement in that country. The Prime Minister raised the issue that there is a need for an enduring peace as Myanmar finds its way back to democracy,” said Mr. Misri explaining that the Indian concerns on continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi was raised during a “free-wheeling” talk.

He further informed that the two sides discussed infrastructure projects like the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the trilateral Moreh-Mae Tsot highway that was to connect India’s northeast with Myanmar via Thailand – both of which have been “delayed” by the conflict in Myanmar. “Right now, the obstacle that faces both of these projects is the security situation in Myanmar,” said Mr. Misri, adding that there are “active hostilities” currently under way on the Kaladan highway between the Myanmar Army and the ethnic armed organisations of the Rakhine State.

Mr. Misri further said that the two sides discussed defence cooperation on Monday that will cover training of Myanmar troops for United Nations peacekeeping. “This is something that has been in focus for several years now. Defence cooperation with Myanmar focuses on training, capacity building, institution building and a very important part of the training is also UN peace keeping.” Mr. Misri also said that the defence cooperation between the two sides included concerns related to security and safety of the India-Myanmar border spanning 1,643 km.

He also informed that the discussion covered critical minerals as Myanmar has major deposits in the Kachin State that borders both India and China. The discussion also included the issue of existence of cyber scam centres in southeast Myanmar bordering Thailand. Mr. Misri said that India has airlifted at least 2,411 workers from cyber scam compounds in Myanmar so far. “As of now we have over 150 Indian nationals who are still stuck in various cyber scam compounds and we are in touch with the Myanmar government to repatriate them,” said Mr. Misri.

Mr. Hlaing’s visit has also drawn criticism from Myanmar’s exiled Opposition and especially the exiled National Unity Government (NUG), which has urged India not to grant legitimacy to his junta-backed government. The visit started on May 30 with the arrival of the President in Bodh Gaya. His meetings in Delhi however have been held away from the media glare. The visiting President met the Indian business community at the Taj hotel on Sunday at an event that was organised by the Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and requests from the media to cover the event were not entertained.

Similarly, the meeting with Mr. Modi held in Hyderabad House was held without the customary press statements where the visiting leaders, alongside the Prime Minister, read a prepared text without taking questions from the media. The Irrawaddy, an exiled media outlet that reports on Myanmar, has reported that Mr. Hlaing has urged the Indian business community to invest in the Yadanabon City project that is operated by his son Aung Pyae Sone.

| Video Credit: PTI