“You can change friends, but not neighbours.” – Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Indo-Myanmar: A Historical Connect
India has walked on the principles of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam” ever since her inception and since the time, the oldest civilisation started cultivating her roots on this pious earth. The relationship between India and all the other nations has always been a very stable and cordial one, at least from her side. India and her neighbourhood has seen myriad issues and situations which have resulted in frequent turmoils, commotions and incurable chaos, as well as convulsions. The recent killing of 10 (ten) militants, along with the Indo-Myanmar border by the Indian security forces in Mnaipur’s Chandel district, has again brewed tensions between the two nations. However to understand what has led to the present crisis, it is pertinent to delve deep into the history of both the nations. It must be noted that India and Myanmar both were a part of British India during colonial rule in 1935 and after independence subsequently, established a friendly treaty and diplomatic relations via the Treaty of Friendship, 1951. Consequently, the visit of Prime Ministers to each others’ nations also built a very strong relationship between the two. The setting up of consulate in Mandalay in 2002 opened the doors for further cooperation, with Myanmar coming under ambit of “Neighbourhood First Policy” and “Act East Policy” of 2014. India, being the land of Buddhist philosophy and cultural development, is highly revered culturally and traditionally by the Burmese. However, this cultural connect has for better part of the bilateral bond, been overshadowed by continuous conflicts and friction points.
Strategic and Diplomatic Importance of Myanmar for India
Myanmar, strategically as well, is very important and quintessential for India’s growth, development and “Neighbourhood First Policy” initiatives. It is tactically located and shares a long 1,643 km border, geographically with India. Notably known as India’s gateway to the South-East Asia, Myanmar is also a potent landmass in countering China’s advances towards Indian mainland and her interests. India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative as a part of India’s maritime doctrinal policy aims to encompass and include the interests of Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania- in the maritime domain. As a part of India’s initiative to counter Chinese incursions and well-predictable mala fide advances in the Indian Ocean region, India also developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine province, so as to counter the Chinese developed and curated Kayaukpyu Port. Sharing a border with India so long, and carrying both strategic and security importance, India is also vary of the tumultuous effect that Myanmar’s fractured economy and insurgency efforts can have on her own mainland. Myanmar for India, like all other neighbouring nations has equal importance, partnership and an inevitable role to play in maintenance of internal security and calm. Peaceful border conditions and secured interests of bilateral diplomatic matrix is invariably foremost in the larger picture of peaceful neighbourhood.
Even though, India and Myanmar have a number of areas in which they actively cooperate, issues such as Myanmar infiltrators and insurgents wanting to destabilise the North-Eastern Indian States, et al have always kept India on her best foot in terms of national security and border management. But before listing out areas of conflict, a brief look at areas of cooperation would deepen the understanding with respect to Myanmar. Trade and economy between the two nations has always been made duty-free tariff preference in favour of Myanmar due to its Least Developed Countries’ status (LDC). In terms of defense cooperation, India has always showed her eagerness to empower her neighbouring nations so as to secure larger peace in the whole Indian subcontinent, and IMBAX (Indian-Myanmar Bilateral Exercise) is a point in that case. Also, Myanmar is a key partner of India, for fighting insurgency in the North-Eastern region. Myanmar and India are also part of various regional blocs such as ASEAN, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, BIMSTEC, et al. Apart from this, both the nations are very well connected to each other through the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo highway, also known as the Indo-Mayanmar Friendship Road. The Kaldan Multi-Modal Transit Transport compliments the Friendship Road, in terms of connecting Kolkata to Sittwe and India’s north-eastern region. India regularly hands out developmental and humanitarian relief assistance to Myanmar on all and every important occasion so as to secure a better future for Myanmar.
Challenges in Indo-Myanmar Cooperation
India and Myanmar even though cooperating in a number of areas, also have some underlying issues and challenges that need a tough hand for troublemakers, and a softer assisting hand for the common citizenry. The recent coup by the Military Junta in Myanmar has effectively caused a lot of diplomatic problems and also put the India interests in peril. This has made the harmonious balance in the bilateral relationship, as well the protection of human rights, et al. to difficult to manage. Even though India has still found a way around this emerging situation and is now at ease in conducting diplomacy under strenuous circumstances, still Chinese incursions in Myanmar have thrown Indian interests off balance in the region. The amount of bilateral trade that India conducts with Myanmar is much less than Myanmar’s trade with China. This, when juxtaposed with the issue of Rohingyas, really creates a lot of issues that not only bombard the Indian jurisdiction with illegal immigrants, but also various human rights, and national security issues along with possible conflicting battlegrounds that can ferment into future friction points. Since the Myanmar border is highly porous and lightly guarded by police and security personnel from the Burmese side, the entry-exit points of terrorists and terrorist organisations are freely available for exploitation, beyond doubt. This exploitation of border areas by insurgent groups and other outfits amounts to infiltration of ideological extremism in North-east India giving fuel to the already burning fire (albeit, now in small pockets) across this region. This also includes free illegal trade taking place in terms of organised crimes, arms trafficking, antique smuggling, extortion rackets, and supply of trained cadres across regions.
Myanmar is also proximate to the opium producing areas of South-East Asia known as the Golden Triangle, and this feeds the insurgent operations of United National Liberation front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), along with smaller groups of Kukis and Zomis who have built their strongholds in Sagaing Division, Kachin State, and Chin State (Myanmar). The now-terminated Free Movement Regime with Myanmar was causing a number of issues which had always hampered India’s internal security and border management with India. This free movement regime was also causing the aforementioned problems for India security establishment. The scrapping of the same has thus resulted in a better restricted and equidistantly ambivalent posturing from India’s side. This has resulted in India’s restrictive policy initiative towards Myanmar, while securing her own interests for a better future relationship.
Parting Note
A stable Myanmar is utmost important for India because of shared geopolitical interests of both nations, national security paradigms, as a measure to counter China in its aggressive format, and because of the tactical location at which Myanmar is so situated. India, on her part has always aided Myanmar in tackling any kind of issue, whether it is a natural disaster or any other. However, India should still uphold its guard in terms of national security at the maximum levels of alertness, and practical tactical decision making. This will not only aid in preserving the border ares, and the larger part of North-East, but will also help in maintaining the cultural diplomacy paradigm, a pragmatic solution for the Rohingya issue, further balanced security cooperation, as well as better management of bilateral relationship. Apart from this, globally and bilaterally, Myanmar should in its own way strive to balance its internal economic and political apparatus, so as to build a long lasting peace and balanced relationship with its neighbour, India.
