India has invited political and military opponents of Myanmar’s ruling junta to attend a seminar in New Delhi, sources said, a significant move by the South Asian power that has maintained relations with top generals shunned by Western countries.
Myanmar’s civil war since its military overthrew an elected civilian government in a February 2021 coup now risks destroying India’s 1,650 km border with Myanmar, and several major infrastructure projects there.
An armed group official and two sources with direct knowledge of the issue said the parallel National Unity Govt (NUG) and ethnic minority rebels from Chin, Rakhine and Kachin states bordering India had been invited to the seminar in mid-November.
The event will be hosted by the government Indian World Affairs Council (ICWA), whose board includes foreign minister S Jaishankar, said two other sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It is unclear whether Myanmar’s military government will also be invited to the event, which sources said will be on the topic of “Constitutionalism and Federalism”. He did not provide further details.
Widespread protests in Myanmar over a 2021 coup have turned into a nationwide uprising, with armed resistance movements joining forces with some established ethnic armies to wrest control of vast swaths of territory from the military.
The junta refuses to engage in dialogue with the rebels, whom it calls “terrorists”.
Speaking at the seminar, Sui Khar, vice-chairman of one of the ethnic rebel groups, the Chin National Front, said, “We will send a representative. This will be the first time, I think, officially, that India will participate with a non-state actor. This is a good approach. and positive.
A spokesman for Myanmar’s military did not return calls seeking comment. The Indian government and ICWA did not respond to requests for comment.
Other armed groups invited include the Arakan Army, which controls significant areas in Rakhine bordering Bangladesh, and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar’s most powerful rebel forces, the source added.
A spokesperson for the NUG govt shadow president declined to comment on the seminar. The Arakan Army and the KIA did not respond to requests for comment.
Although the junta has been condemned by Western powers, with many people have been imposed sanctions, India has kept up the engagement with the general through visits to the capital, Naypyitaw, by govt and defense officials.
India has been reluctant to openly criticize the junta, which could push the general closer to China. New Delhi has no official ties with the junta’s opponents.
It was not immediately clear what the seminar would entail or why India took the step.
In June, Jaishankar expressed concern over border instability and security risks to Indian projects in Myanmar. India is “open to engaging all stakeholders to resolve this situation,” he told his Myanmar counterpart.
India is involved in developing the $400 million Kaladan port and highway project in western Myanmar, as well as providing about $250 million for another road project to connect the landlocked northeastern states with Thailand, via Myanmar.
The planned seminar comes amid peace efforts by the Asean group of Southeast Asian nations that have seen little progress since opening in April 2021, as some Asean nations have been troubled by the junta’s rejection of talks.
Last year, former Asean chairman Indonesia said he had received positive signals about the initial dialogue from the main parties in the conflict, but there had been no signs of progress.
The Nov meeting will represent a serious attempt by New Delhi to reach out to Myanmar’s “pro-democracy side” since the 2021 coup, said Angshuman Choudhury, a Singapore-based researcher who tracks India-Myanmar affairs.
“We also need to see … whether it is intended to achieve specific foreign policy results or just send a signal to the Myanmar military to back off,” he said.
