New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday that Myanmarese territory would not be allowed to use against India’s security interests, as the two leaders held wide-ranging talks to boost bilateral ties in trade, defence, energy, and connectivity.
Aung Hlaing is on a five-day trip to India. The visit comes less than two months after he became the president following Myanmar’s parliamentary elections.
The elections were held in December and January after years of protests against the ruling military-junta that seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
In the talks, both sides shared the importance of working closely towards the completion of Kaladan Multi-Modal transit transport project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, responding to a question on Suu Kyi, said the prime minister did raise the issue with the visiting president, and that the discussion was largely in the context of the peace process that has been underway in Myanmar. Explaining India’s consistent position on the issue, the foreign secretary noted that India has been supporting enduring peace, inclusion, and the need to have all stakeholders at the table.
“The prime minister did raise this matter with the President and this was a discussion that was largely in the context of the peace process that has been underway in Myanmar for quite some time. The effort to bring in all the ethnic groups onto the same platform and find a way forward within a united Myanmar.
“This is something that you are aware has been going on for a long period of time. There isn’t yet a final agreement between all stakeholders,” he said.
Misri said it was a bit of a free-wheeling discussion on that issue and that is “where issues related to democracy, etc were also raised.” “I should underline that, I mean our engagement with Myanmar is not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangements in that country. We have always proceeded on the principle that sustained dialogue is what is important, and what is an imperative for India as a neighbour,” he said.
“And the answer is clearly not disengagement. History has shown that disengagement doesn’t give us any results that are better than engagement, and it certainly doesn’t produce democratic change if that is what we are interested in,” he said.
Misri said the prime minister reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and both sides underscored the importance of preventing the misuse of sovereign territory for activities “inimical” to their security interests.
Certain militant groups operating in the Northeast region have bases in Myanmar and India has been flagging concerns about them to the neighbouring country.
“The President of Myanmar in particular reiterated the assurance that Myanmar’s territory would not be permitted to be used against India’s security interests,” he said.
The activities of a few Myanmarese rebel militant outfits opposed to Myanmar’s ruling dispensation also triggered security concerns for India.
Misri said the issue of armed groups operating from the Myanmar side was raised by PM Modi.
“He emphasised that these groups continue to carry out activities in areas close to our borders. In response, the operations conducted by the Myanmar military against these groups also often take place very near the border,” he said.
“As a result, there is impact on people living on the Indian side of the border. At times, there can be damage or disruption in those areas. As you also mentioned, large numbers of refugees sometimes cross over from the other side of the border into India,” the foreign secretary added.
Misri said it is important to ensure that the long-standing people-to-people interactions across the border, and the familial and social ties that exist between communities on both sides in many areas, are not adversely affected.
“The objective is to create an effective security framework while taking these realities into account. The fencing work is currently underway, and at several locations there will be designated entry points and gates,” he said.
Misri said the talks between the two sides focused on the entire gamut of bilateral issues that included trade and economic ties, defence and security related issues, border management, development assistance as well as the regional situation.
Both sides expressed interest in forging closer cooperation, particularly in areas of trade and investment, health, education, energy, and critical technologies like artificial intelligence.
“The prime minister reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and both sides underscored the importance of preventing the misuse of sovereign territory for activities inimical to their security interests,” he said.
Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640-kilometer-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.
“Overall, this visit by the Myanmar President has once again reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to deepen their long-standing partnership and to work together for mutual benefit, growth and prosperity in the region,” Misri said.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday met Aung Hlaing and discussed key issues relating to bilateral ties.
The Myanmarese leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several cabinet ministers, senior officials and business leaders.
Aung Hlaing was earlier scheduled to visit New Delhi to participate in the International Big Cat Alliance Summit on June 1, which has been deferred.
The Myanmarese president will also travel to Mumbai on June 2 for business and industry interactions and site visits. PTI MPB KVK KVK
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