Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says the Prime Minister stressed peace, inclusion and dialogue during talks with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his meeting with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
Addressing a special media briefing following the talks at Hyderabad House, Misri said the discussion took place in the broader context of Myanmar’s ongoing peace process, national reconciliation efforts and the country’s path back to democracy.
He said Prime Minister Modi emphasised the need for lasting peace, inclusion and the participation of all stakeholders in efforts to resolve Myanmar’s long running internal conflicts.
According to Misri, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of bringing together ethnic groups and other stakeholders on a common platform to find a way forward within a united Myanmar.
“The Prime Minister did raise this matter with the President,” Misri said, referring to Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention. He noted that the conversation centred on the need for enduring peace, inclusive dialogue and consideration of the views of all parties involved in the peace process.
Misri said issues relating to democracy were also discussed during what he described as a broad exchange of views on Myanmar’s political future.
The Foreign Secretary underlined India’s longstanding approach of engaging with Myanmar while continuing to raise concerns related to democracy, peace and inclusivity.
He rejected the idea of disengagement, arguing that isolating Myanmar would neither promote democratic change nor serve India’s interests.
“History has shown that disengagement doesn’t give us any results that are better than engagement,” Misri said, adding that disengagement often creates a vacuum that can be filled by actors who do not share an interest in democratic values.
He stressed that India’s engagement with Myanmar should not be viewed as an endorsement of the country’s internal political arrangements, but rather as a practical necessity given the two nations’ shared border and strategic relationship.
Earlier in the day, Modi and Hlaing held wide ranging talks and agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity, development partnership, capacity building, security and border management.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India Myanmar partnership for peace, progress and prosperity.
In a statement posted on social media, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India remains Myanmar’s trusted neighbour, reliable partner and first responder during times of crisis under its Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR policies.
Jaiswal added that the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s readiness to support peace and dialogue in Myanmar, including through sharing its experiences in federal governance and economic development.
