In First Outreach to Military Regime, Foreign Secy Shringla to Visit Myanmar

The Indian government had said, on 7 December, that it was "disturbed" by the verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi's trial.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will visit Myanmar for two days on 22 and 23 December in what is the Indian government's first official outreach to the military government that was established after the February 2021 coup, The Indian Express reported.

The MEA said that "during the visit, Foreign Secretary will hold discussions with the State Administration Council, political parties and members of civil society" and that "issues relating to humanitarian support to Myanmar, security and India-Myanmar border concerns, and the political situation in Myanmar will be discussed."

India has avoided any criticism of the Burmese military's coup, the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protestors, and the arrest and trial of former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi that followed.

The Indian government had, on 7 December, said that it was "disturbed" by the verdict of Suu Kyi's trial. A court in Myanmar had sentenced her to two years in prison for inciting public unrest and breaching COVID-19 rules.

An initial verdict had sentenced her to four years for the same, before halving the sentence a day later.

The Indian government had further stated that democratic processes must be followed and any political development that "undermines these processes and accentuates differences is a matter of deep concern."

(With inputs from The Indian Express)