Disengagement with Myanmar doesn’t benefit India, allows other countries to fill the gap, says govt

The President of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing makes his first international visit to New Delhi as India looks to deepen engagement with Naypyidaw with an eye on China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of Myanmar, U Min Aung Hlaing, as they hold bilateral talks at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi Monday | ANI

New Delhi: Disengagement with Myanmar has not succeeded in the past, with third countries filling the vacuum to India’s “detriment”, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Monday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met new Myanmarese President U Min Aung Hlaing.

“History has shown us that disengagement does not give us a better outcome… It only allows others to fill in the vacuum to our detriment… And those who step in aren’t keen on a democracy,” said Misri at a special press briefing.

Misri’s explanation came after Modi and U Min Aung Hlaing held bilateral talks in the national capital. While the Indian foreign secretary did not directly name China, Beijing’s footprint in Myanmar has grown over the last couple of decades. Even through the civil war in the last five years, Beijing has been able to work with ethnic armed groups and the state to ensure no hindrance to its development projects in Myanmar.

In 1988, then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi had backed Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratic forces against the military leadership in control of Myanmar. The decision led to repercussions for New Delhi’s ties with Naypyidaw, after the Tatmadaw (armed forces of Myanmar) was able to retain control over the country in 1990. However, ties between the two countries have deepened since.

The visit to New Delhi is the Myanmarese President’s first international visit since assuming the highest post in the South East Asian country in April this year. U Min Aung Hlaing led the Tatmadaw until stepping down to run in the three-phase presidential election held at the start of this year.

For the better part of the last half decade, Myanmar has experienced international isolation following a coup d’etat led by Min Aung Hlaing and the Tatmadaw in February 2021. As a result of the coup d’etat, a civil war between ethnic armed organisations, remnants of the democratically elected government under the umbrella of the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Tatmadaw.

Naypyidaw was suspended from attending meetings at the regional organisation—Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—and even passed over for holding the ASEAN leaders’ summit later this year.

The coup d’etat led to the arrest of a number of pro-democratic figures including Aung San Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Aung San Suu Kyi was the State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar between 2016 and 2021 and remained under house arrest following the coup d’etat till earlier this year.

“The PM (Narendra Modi) did raise this matter (Aung San Suu Kyi) with the President (of Myanmar) and this was a discussion largely in context of the peace process that has been underway in Myanmar for quite some time… The effort is to bring in all ethnic groups onto the same platform within a united Myanmar,” said Misri.

The Indian foreign secretary added: “We obviously have an interest. Stability and peace in Myanmar is a major interest for India. Not just for the security of our Northeast, but also for the safety and security of people living across the border but also our interests for connectivity to Southeast Asia.”

Security, connectivity and trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Indian insurgent groups functioning in Myanmar during his meeting with Min Aung Hlaing. The President of Myanmar “reiterated” that his government will take necessary steps to prevent these groups from carrying out activities inimical to Indian interests, the foreign secretary explained.

Another issue between India and Myanmar currently is the large number of Indian citizens who have been trafficked into the country as part of the emerging cyber scam centres. In the last 18 months, 2,411 Indians have been repatriated through cooperation between India and Myanmar in law enforcement activities. Another 150 citizens remain in such centres, revealed Misri.

India has sought commitment from Myanmar for the completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway (IMT highway) as well as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project. Both key connectivity projects for New Delhi, linking India with Thailand via Myanmar, have been held up for years due to the security situation in Naypyidaw.

“The obstacle that faces both of these projects is the security situation. Kaladan is where there are active hostilities right now. Ethnic armies in Rakhine state are active. A section of the trilateral highway where work is underway where ethnic armed organisations and the People’s Defence Force are quite active. In these circumstances it is a bit difficult to have preset targets,” said Misri.

However, Naypyidaw has given its commitment to ensure the safety and security of Indian workers working on the completion of these projects.

Critical minerals, trade, development assistance and cultural ties were other topics discussed by Modi and Min Aung Hlaing. Current trade stands around $2 billion, and both countries are keen to expand these sectors of the relationship.

The President of Myanmar landed in India on 30 May, with a stopover at Bodh Gaya. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval called on the President over the weekend. The Myanmarese leader is set to travel to Mumbai Tuesday before departing India on 3 June.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)