Mizzima-Apr 14
India is recalibrating its relationship with Myanmar in response to the latter’s escalating conflict and shifting territorial control, according to a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG). The briefing, titled “A Rebel Border: India’s Evolving Ties with Myanmar after the Coup,” details how New Delhi is delicately balancing its longstanding ties with Myanmar’s military junta while increasingly engaging with opposition forces now dominating the shared frontier. Following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, India initially maintained close relations with the junta, prioritizing security cooperation and infrastructure initiatives like the $500 million Kaladan transport project, vital for connecting India’s northeast to the Bay of Bengal. However, the military’s weakening grip and the rise of resistance groups, particularly in Chin and Rakhine States, have forced India to diversify its outreach.New Delhi has begun building discreet relations with resistance groups such as the Arakan Army and various Chin armed organizations, recognizing their control over border areas essential to Indian trade and security. Quiet diplomacy was punctuated by a significant shift last November, when India hosted high-level meetings with opposition leaders and armed group representatives. Yet, a parallel approach by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs threatens to undercut these diplomatic gains. Measures like fencing the 1,643km Myanmar border, restricting the Free Movement Regime, and initiating biometric registration of refugees have sparked backlash from local communities in India’s northeast and drawn concern from policy analysts. Critics argue these moves risk alienating cross-border ethnic communities and obstructing humanitarian aid, trade, and broader connectivity goals under India’s “Act East” policy. The Crisis Group warns that hardline border policies may undermine India’s strategic objectives, including curbing refugee inflows and competing with China’s growing influence in Myanmar. The report urges New Delhi to instead prioritize flexible, locally-informed border management and increased aid and trade flows, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Rakhine and Chin States. While India has shown growing openness to working with Myanmar’s opposition, the report emphasizes the need for sustained engagement with a broader range of actors and an internal policy alignment that reflects on-the-ground realities. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/04/14/21343
