While underlining that it was against imposing sanctions on Myanmar even as efforts were underway in the United Nations, India is looking to step up engagement with Aung San Suu Kyi with the Indian Ambassador in Myanmar having met her a couple of weeks ago.

Explaining that the military regimes like the ones in Myanmar are likely to pass on the burden of sanctions to the people, sources said, it is important not to go down that path and instead look to encourage the reconciliation process.

India feels that the military rulers of Yangon have had success in reaching out to ethnic groups and have entered into some agreement or arrangement with at least 17 of the 18 groups there. In this context, New Delhi is pushing to encourage efforts for a dialogue between Suu Kyi and the regime rather than adopting extreme measures.

New Delhi has an eye on its own interests while formulating its position. According to sources, the situation on the Indo-Myanmar border can go out of hand if there is large-scale political upheaval as was witnessed in the late 1980s.

Moreover, the Than Shwe regime has been receptive to Indian concerns like N-E insurgent groups locating camps in Myanmarese territory. Not only did Yangon move extra troops to the India border from the Karen stronghold along the Thai border to address New Delhi’s concerns, it also carried out raids when needed based on Indian intelligence.

India has also invested in the Kaladan Multi-modal transport project that will by pass Bangladesh for India to reach the Northeast from the Myanmar border. It is learnt that the formal agreement is expected to finalised in a couple of weeks time.

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