India Following Intensified Fighting in Myanmar Very Closely: MEA

India has been following the intensified fighting between Arakan Army and Myanmar government forces "very closely", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly briefing in New Delhi on Friday.

"We are following the developments in Myanmar very closely. We understand that fighting has intensified and we are following the evolving situation very closely," MEA spokesperson said in response to a question from Sputnik India.

Jaiswal highlighted that India had relocated its staff from the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Sittwe to the Embassy in Yangon in April, underscoring that Indian consulate in Mandalay "remains fully functional."

Moreover, Indian development cooperation projects in Myanmar are progressing well despite the fighting in the region, Jaiswal stated, emphasising that all these projects are grant-based and intended to serve the interests of the people of Myanmar.

Importantly, sources said that India was in touch with "all the stakeholders" in Myanmar, highlighting that work was progressing well on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) Road from Mizoram to Sittwe seaport, managed by state-backed India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL). Despite the escalating conflict in the region, the port continues to operate normally, they added.

The MEA spokesperson also informed the briefing that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri participated in the 'Six-Country Informal Consultation' among Myanmar's land boundary neighbours, hosted by Thailand on Thursday.

"You are aware of our position on Myanmar. We have called for cessation of violence. We have called for peace and stability and resolution of ethnic issues through the establishment of a genuine federal democracy," Jaiswal said.

He emphasised that India has always been in favour of return to stability in the country through a "Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned" process, which takes into account the views of all stakeholders.

Also, representatives from Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Bangladesh and China participated in the informal meeting, marking the first gathering between Myanmar and all five of its neighbouring countries, a Thai Foreign Ministry readout stated, adding that the discussions would complement ASEAN's efforts to "advance tangible implementation of the 5-point consensus" on Myanmar.

"All neighbouring countries have a shared interest in seeing a peaceful, stable and unified Myanmar through a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned process. They urged all parties in Myanmar to stop violence and engage in dialogue in order to find peaceful solutions," the statement read.

Than Swe, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, informed the gathering that the government has "opened the door for dialogue to find peaceful solutions through a political process", according to the document. He also provided updates on the country's "political roadmap" and preparations for next year's elections, including the population census, the registration of political parties, and the intention to invite foreign election observers, it said.

Further, the diplomats from India, Myanmar and Thailand discussed the re-opening of the Asian Highway 1 (AH1) to boost border trade and connectivity between Southeast Asia and South Asia.

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