India-Myanmar ties: PM Modi raises border security, refugee concerns in talks with President Min Aung Hlaing

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday raised concerns over the activities of armed groups operating near the India-Myanmar border and the impact of Myanmar's internal conflict on Indian border communities during talks with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi.Speaking at a special briefing after the high-level bilateral meeting, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said PM Modi highlighted the spillover effects of the conflict in Myanmar, including cross-border security challenges and the influx of refugees into India.“This issue was raised by the Prime Minister today in the conversation and he emphasised this point: that these groups, their activities continue around our borders. And in response, the actions of the Myanmar army against them also happen very close to the borders,” Misri said.He added that military operations near the border and the activities of armed groups have affected people living on the Indian side.“It has a lot of impact on the people living on this side, the Indian side of the border. So sometimes, there can be some damage there, or as you also said, many refugees come to our side from across that border,” he said.Misri said PM Modi urged Myanmar authorities to ensure that military operations near the frontier do not cause harm to civilians living in India.“The Prime Minister said that about this, the Myanmar army and the authorities there in Myanmar should pay attention to this, and this action should be done in such a way that there is no loss, especially to the people living on the Indian side,” he said, as reported by news agency ANI.The refugee issue also figured prominently in the discussions. Misri acknowledged that people fleeing the conflict in Myanmar have entered India's northeastern state of Mizoram.“We all know that refugees have come to Mizoram for some time because of this reason,” he said.According to Misri, the process of returning refugees is complicated but mechanisms already exist between the two countries. “There is a system to send the refugees back; there is a mechanism for it. And the authorities of both countries are in contact with each other as to how they will be sent back,” he said.He added that Myanmar authorities do not view those who crossed into India as permanent refugees and expect them to return once conditions improve.“The Myanmar government also believes that these people have not come as permanent refugees. And as soon as normalcy returns on the other side of the border, these people will go back to their side,” Misri said.The border issue was discussed during detailed talks between PM Modi and Min Aung Hlaing at Hyderabad House.The Myanmar president is on a four-day visit to India from May 30 to June 2.The two sides also reviewed a range of bilateral issues, including trade, security cooperation, border management and connectivity projects.Misri said Myanmar assured India it would do “everything” possible to advance the delayed Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, both of which have been affected by ongoing conflict in Myanmar.The foreign secretary noted that active hostilities involving the Myanmar military, ethnic armed groups and People's Defence Forces have hampered work on both projects, forcing deadlines to be adjusted.Separately, Misri said India has repatriated 2,411 citizens from cyber scam compounds in Myanmar over the past one-and-a-half years, while more than 150 Indians are still believed to be trapped there, according to ANI.He said New Delhi continues to work closely with Myanmar authorities to secure the return of those still stranded.The talks also covered cooperation in trade, investment, development assistance, health, education, energy, artificial intelligence and the space sector, Misri said.