India-Myanmar Relations
Burma (Myanmar)- India relations
India established diplomatic relations after Burma's independence from Great Britain in 1948. For many years, Indo-Burmese relations were strong. Both countries shared cultural links, flourishing commercial ties and common interests in regional affairs. There was also a presence of a significant Indian community in Burma.
India also provided considerable support to Burma when it was struggling with regional insurgencies. However, the overthrow of the democratic government by the Military of Burma in 1962 led to strains in ties. Along with much of the world, India condemned the suppression of democracy and gave its support to the pro democracy movement which was led by Aung San Suu Kyi. China was one of the few countries that retained close links with Burma.
By 1993, the movement for democracy was not making much progress and the military regime was going ahead with making peace with ethnic minorities. There was little possibility of the military regime relinquishing power to the National League for Democracy. In the absence of dialogue with the Myanmar military, insurgency and narcotics smuggling were assuming alarming proportions in the states bordering Myanmar. Myanmar is strategically very important for both India and China due to its location and large natural gas reserves. China also began stepping up its strategic engagement with the Myanmar military junta. During the tenure of P.V Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister, India appeared to have taken account that giving too much weight to human rights and democracy in Myanmar over strategic considerations may not be in its long term interests., India moved to forge closer relations with Myanmar to counter China’s growing influence as a regional leader and to increase its own influence
India was also slow to react to the 2007 anti government protests. It declared that it had no intention of interfering in Burma's internal affairs and that the Burmese people would have to achieve democracy themselves. India’s low-key response has been widely criticised both within India and abroad and has weakened India's credentials as a responsible democratic nation.
