Dr Arvind Gupta’s Article on PM’s Visit to Myanmar Published in Express Buzz

Director General, IDSA, Dr Arvind Gupta’s article on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Myanmar, titled ‘Bolster ties with Myanmar’ was published in Express Buzz on May 26, 2012. The Prime Minister is on a visit to Myanmar from May 27 to 29, 2012.

Abstract

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Myanmar from May 27 to 29 provides India an opportunity to upgrade its relations with Myanmar to the strategic level. India-Myanmar relations went into a deep freeze after the junta disregarded the results of the 1990 parliamentary elections in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won 82 per cent seats. Myanmar, which was then wrecked by numerous insurgencies, faced international isolation. Initially, India sided with the democratic forces much to the dislike of the military rulers. This had an adverse impact on bilateral relations. Many Northeastern insurgency groups took shelter in Myanmar. India soon realised the critical importance of Myanmar to its security and in the mid-Nineties made a course correction by engaging with the junta. While the relationship improved, there was not much to celebrate.

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