Growing Security Concerns in Myanmar: India’s Diplomatic Engagements
India’s concerns about Myanmar’s deteriorating security situation have intensified since resistance forces launched a coordinated offensive against the junta last October.
High-Level Meetings in New Delhi
On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held crucial discussions with his counterparts from Myanmar and Thailand, focusing on border stability and humanitarian aid. These meetings took place on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) foreign ministers’ retreat in New Delhi.
Trilateral Discussions
Jaishankar participated in a trilateral meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe. The discussions centered on maintaining border stability and providing humanitarian assistance. Jaishankar emphasized the shared priority of countering transnational crimes, including cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and illegal arms trade. “We will continue to cooperate in that regard,” he stated in a post on X.
Connectivity projects, deemed crucial for BIMSTEC’s future, were also a focal point of the trilateral talks.
Bilateral Meeting with Myanmar
In a separate bilateral meeting with Than Swe, who also serves as Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister, Jaishankar expressed India’s concerns regarding border stability and the influx of displaced persons. He reiterated India’s support for a return to democracy in Myanmar, stating that India engages with all stakeholders to facilitate this process.
Jaishankar also addressed issues related to the illegal narcotics and arms trade, as well as the activities of insurgent groups. He strongly advocated for the early return of Indians unlawfully detained by cyber scam gangs.
Cyber Scam Concerns
Over the past two years, Indian nationals have been targeted by criminal gangs operating cyber scams in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. These scams, orchestrated by Chinese criminal syndicates, are known as the “pig butchering” scam, where online fraudsters deceive individuals into depositing money into fake platforms.
Addressing the BIMSTEC Retreat
In his address at the BIMSTEC foreign ministers’ retreat, Jaishankar highlighted the need for the grouping’s seven members to find collaborative solutions in response to global and regional developments. BIMSTEC, he said, is at the intersection of India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policies, with a specific focus on the Bay of Bengal, an area with significant untapped collaborative potential. The retreat aims to prepare strong outcomes for the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
Jaishankar noted that discussions at the retreat centered on enhancing connectivity, institution building, trade cooperation, health collaboration, space technology, and digital public infrastructure.
Bilateral Meetings with Other BIMSTEC Members
Jaishankar also held separate meetings with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Bhutan Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel, Sri Lankan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, and Nepal Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal.
BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
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