A delicate but necessary mission to Mynamar

News: Indian foreign secretary is on a diplomatic mission to Myanmar.

What are the goals of the current visit?

Insurgent activity: Discussions on the reactivation of insurgent activity along the India-Myanmar border. The recent fatal attack on Colonel Viplav Tripathi and his family, together with four other men of the Assam Rifles is one of the incidents. Insurgent outfits – the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF), are known to be behind this attack.

An influx of refugees: Mizoram is under pressure to provide resources to the people escaping army oppression to seek shelter in Mizoram.

Read more: Refugees from Myanmar and India’s internal Security challenge

Review the slowdown in the implementation of the bilateral megaprojects: the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan multimodal connectivity between India’s Northeast and Myanmar’s Sittwe port is not going as in required pace.

How are Myanmar’s relations with other countries?

ASEAN: Myanmar government’s failure to adhere to the ‘Five-Point Consensus’ crafted by ASEAN has created an unprecedented situation. Recently, the PM of Myanmar got barred from attending the annual summits of ASEAN and the China-ASEAN summit.

Recently, Cambodia is planning to meet Myanmar counterparts to end its isolation

Also read: ASEAN’s Initiative to End Political Crisis in Myanmar

USA: Despite its policy of sanctions, the US too is in touch with Myanmar with the visit of various officials, which resulted in the release of imprisoned US journalist Danny Fenster.

Russia: It stated that “joint efforts” can develop Russia-Myanmar cooperation in “economic, military-technical and educational spheres”.

What strategy should India adopt?

India should project dual-track diplomacy. India was deeply disturbed by the court’s unfair verdict delivered against Suu Kyi. India should adopt the balancing approach by cooperating with the military while extending clear support for democracy.

Humanitarian assistance: India has already supplied 2.7 million vaccine doses and wants to do more.

Myanmar on the other hand needs to make its democracy inclusive.

Read here: Ways to Restore Democracy in Myanmar

Source: This post is based on the article “A delicate but necessary mission to Mynamar” published in Times of India on 22nd December 2021.

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