Thread by @angshuman_ch

Yesterday, #India's Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) minister virtually met the #Myanmar junta's Minister of Border Affairs.

Here's the Indian press release on the meeting. Few salient points... 🧵(1/n)

pib.gov.in/PressReleseDet…

- New Delhi continues to wager on the junta to keep its Northeastern borders secure & stable;

- India wants to resume its development projects, including the Border Area Development Projects (BADP), in #Myanmar at the earliest. Most of these are funded by grants; (2/n)

Emphasis on "early restoration of peace & security" as opposed to "democracy" (as was the case before). In fact, New Delhi has quietly dropped all references to "restoration of democracy" in its statements on post-coup #Myanmar since last year. (3/n)

https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1369965464835657734

India believes that the junta can facilitate the rescue of Indian IT professionals trapped in the Chinese-run Shwe Kokko scam city & human trafficking hub in Karen's State Myawaddy Township. Some rescues have already been made, as per MEA: (4/n)

https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1577564681090134021

Here's something new from 🇮🇳 this time: the emphasis on "return of Myanmar nationals currently taking shelter in India". Clearly, the refugee situation is bothering Delhi. Except, if they go back, many of them will be arrested, tortured or even killed by the junta. (5/n)

Here's the junta's statement on the meeting (from its mouthpiece, GNLM). Much shorter than the Indian version & lacking in specifics.

Once again, junta taking Delhi for a ride to boost its own credibility while the latter keeps waving its own narrow agenda? (6/n)