Context: A 28 March earthquake in Myanmar has killed nearly 4000 and has further affected nearly six million people, seriously affecting relief operations especially in the backdrop of a prolonged civil war and ethnic crisis in the country.
Ethnic Crisis in Myanmar:
- The ongoing ethnic crisis in Myanmar is driven by its colonial past and the complex ethnic composition of its demography.
- Colonial policies of segregating frontier people from the mainland sowed seeds of distrust among the people of Myanmar.
- This distrust often culminated in violence against the frontier people by mainland communities as observed in the case of severe oppression of Rohingya Muslims.
- The November 2020 elections, where National League for Democracy (NLD) claimed victory under the leadership of Aung Sun Su Kyi, was rejected by Myanmar's millitary junta on the ground of electoral malpractices.
- In February 2021, the junta staged a coup, arresting Aung Sun Su Kyi and other national leaders, declaring a state of emergency and taking control over the government.
- Rohingyas are a Muslim ethnic group from the Rakhine province in western Myanmar.
- They speak a Bengali dialect, unlike majority of people in Myanmar who speak Burmese.
- Myanmar authorities do not grant them citizenship status, considering them as Bangladeshi migrants from colonial times.
- India is not a signatory to 1951 Refugee Convention and other human rights treaties like the Convention against Torture.
- Indian authorities use the Foreigners Act 1946 and Passport Act 1967 to restrict the presence of Rohingya refugees and declare them as illegal migrants.
- India is also a party to International Convention on Civil and Poltical Rights (ICCPR) which prohibits member countries from deporting refugees to their country of origin where they may face persecution, also known as the principle of non-refoulement.
- Both India and Myanmar were part of British India during colonial times until 1935 when Myanmar (Burma) was separated thanks to Government of India Act, 1935.
- After independence, both countries shared cordial relations, signing a Friendship Treaty in 1951.
- India shares a 1643 km long land border with Myanmar, bordering states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Maipur and Mizoram.
- India-Myanmar border is also home to rich geographical features including Patkai Range, Naga Hills, Chin Hills. Besides, it also hosts several threatened species of birds such as White-eared Night Heron, Grey-crowned Crocias, and Orange-necked Patridge.
- Instability in northeast India due to the influx of reguees which may alter the region's indigenous demographic structure. This creates room for future conflicts in India' northeastern region.
- The Free Movement Regime along India-Myanmar border has the potential for unrestricted supply of weapons and drugs during a confict which can aid in strengthening the roots of northeast insurgency.
- India and Myanmar are part of several important infrastructure projects such as Kaladan Multimodal Project, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trialteral Project which face disruptions due to instability in Myanmar.
- An unstable Myanmar gives China an opportunity to spread its wings in India's northeastern region which does not bode well given the history of Chinese military aggression in Arunachal and an increasingly hostile Bangladesh under the Yunus administration.
- Myanmar, being a gateway to east and southeast Asia, is an important pillar of India's Act East Policy. The orgoing civil war and ethnic clashes in Myanmar create serious impediments for India's outreach programmes under the Act East Policy.
- India can play the role of a facilitator in ending the current ethnic crisis in Myanmar along with other international partners.
- India needs to consider all the stakeholders in Myanmar, both the junta and the rebels to protect its strategic interests.
- India should change its currrent ambivalent stance on the military junta in Myanmar and formulate a clear policy for better cooperation in future.
1. Infrastructure & Connectivity Projects
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project:
- Connects Kolkata (India) to Sittwe (Myanmar) via sea, then via river and road to Mizoram.
- Aims to provide alternate access to India’s Northeast, bypassing Bangladesh.
- Delayed due to security issues (insurgency) and political instability in Myanmar.
India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway:
- Connects Manipur (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand) via Myanmar (1,360 km).
- Expected completion by 2025 (delays due to Myanmar’s civil unrest).
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation):
- Includes India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka.
- Focuses on trade, energy, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
2. Security & Counter-Insurgency Cooperation
Operation Sunrise (2019, 2023):
- Joint military ops against NE insurgent groups (NSCN-K, ULFA, Manipur rebels) in Myanmar.
- Targeted camps in Sagaing Region and Chin State.
Recent initiative
Operation Brahma
It was a humanitarian and disaster relief operation launched by India in response to a devastating earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, 2025. India's "Neighbourhood First" policy guided the swift deployment of resources, including search and rescue teams, medical personnel, and supplies, demonstrating India's commitment to being the first responder in the region.
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