Reuters,BDnews24.com(Bangladesh), September 23, 2024

India has invited political and military opponents of Myanmar's ruling juntato attend a seminar in New Delhi, sources said, a significant move by the SouthAsian power that has maintained ties with the top generals shunned by Westernnations.

A civil war in Myanmar since its military unseated an elected civiliangovernment in a February 2021 coup now risks destabilising India's 1,650km(1,025 mile) border with Myanmar, and some of its key infrastructure projectsthere.

A leader of an armed group and two sources with direct knowledge of theissue said the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic minorityrebels from the states of Chin, Rakhine and Kachin bordering India had beeninvited to a seminar in mid-November.

The event would be hosted by the government-funded Indian Council of WorldAffairs (ICWA), whose council includes India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar,said two other sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter wasconfidential.

It was not immediately clear if Myanmar's military government would also beinvited to the event, which the sources said would be on the topic of"Constitutionalism and Federalism". They gave no further details.

Widespread protest in Myanmar over the 2021 coup turned into a nationwiderebellion, with an armed resistance movement combining with some establishedethnic armies to seize control of wide swathes of territory from the military.

The junta has refused to enter into dialogue with the rebels, whom itdescribes as "terrorists".

Speaking of the seminar, Sui Khar, vice chairman of one the ethnic rebelgroups, the Chin National Front, said, "We are going to sendrepresentatives."

"This will be the first time, I think, formally, that India will engagewith the non-state actors. This is a good, positive approach."

A spokesperson for Myanmar's military did not answer telephone calls to seekcomment. The Indian government and the ICWA did not immediately respond torequests for comment.

The other armed groups invited include the Arakan Army, which controlssignificant reaches of territory in Rakhine bordering Bangladesh, and theKachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar's most powerful rebel forces,the sources added.

A spokesperson for the president of the shadow NUG government declined tocomment on the seminar. The Arakan Army and KIA did not immediately respond torequests for comment.

MOTIVE UNCLEAR

Although the junta has been condemned by Western powers, with most of themhaving imposed sanctions, India has kept up engagement with the generalsthrough visits to the capital, Naypyitaw, by its government and defenceofficials.

India has been reluctant to openly criticise the junta, which could push thegenerals closer to rival China. New Delhi has had no formal engagement with thejunta's opponents.

It was not immediately clear what the seminar would seek to achieve or whyIndia has made the move.

In June, Foreign Minister Jaishankar voiced concern about border instabilityand the security risks to India's projects in Myanmar. India was "open toengaging all stakeholders in addressing this situation," he told hisMyanmar counterpart.

India is involved in developing the $400-million Kaladan port and highwayproject in Myanmar's west, as well as providing about $250 million for anotherroad project to link its landlocked northeastern states with Thailand, viaMyanmar.

The seminar plan comes amid a peace effort by the ASEAN grouping ofSoutheast Asian nations that has made scant progress since its unveiling inApril 2021, as some ASEAN nations have been vexed by the junta's refusal oftalks.

Last year, former ASEAN chair Indonesia said it had received positivesignals about preliminary dialogue from major parties in the conflict, butthere have been no signs advancement yet.

The November meeting would represent New Delhi's most serious effort toapproach Myanmar's "pro-democracy side" since the 2021 coup, saidAngshuman Choudhury, a Singapore-based researcher who closely tracksIndia-Myanmar affairs.

"We also need to see ... whether it is meant to achieve specificforeign policy outcomes or simply relay a signal to the Myanmar military tostep back," he said.

"India remains concerned about the security and stability of itsborders."