The military-backed side secured an overwhelming victory in the polls in which many opposition parties were barred from contesting and large conflicted areas were unable to participate. In a parliament dominated by military loyalists, Min Aung Hlaing was elected president in April.The authorities presented the vote as a step towards a return to civilian government, but opposition groups, Western governments and international observers criticised the election. Critics argued that the transition would do little to alter the military's grip on power, while the authorities maintained that the vote was free and fair.Between the 2021 coup and being elected president, Min Aung Hlaing has travelled to Russia and China.
But this is his first foreign visit since taking office in April.Modi's last official visit to Myanmar was in 2017.Getty ImagesThe Myanmar conflict has evolved into an armed resistance movement and a civil war that has killed thousands of peopleThe talks between Modi and Min Aung Hlaing touched on Myanmar's political situation, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a press conference on Monday. He added that the Indian prime minister raised broader issues related to democracy in the neighbouring country and discussed Aung San Suu Kyi - currently under strict house arrest.Misri said Delhi continued to support "enduring peace" and an inclusive process involving all stakeholders in Myanmar, arguing that sustained dialogue rather than disengagement offered the best chance of progress.Myanmar's state-run English-language newspaper, the Global New Light of Myanmar, has published a joint statement saying both countries underscored the need to prevent the misuse of Myanmar's territory for activities "inimical to their security interests". It added that Min Aung Hlaing reiterated Myanmar's assurance that its territory "would not be permitted to be used against India's security interests", while Modi reaffirmed India's support for Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity.Upon arriving in India on 30 May, Min Aung Hlaing visited Bodh Gaya and offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple, built at the site where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.
He later travelled to Delhi for official talks before heading to Mumbai, where he met business leaders to explore investment opportunities and expand bilateral trade.Analysts say the visit is important for Myanmar's leadership, because it has sought to broaden diplomatic engagement after years of international criticism and isolation."It is a big diplomatic gain for Myanmar because with this visit the president is getting validation from the world's largest democracy," Rajiv Bhatia, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, told the BBC.Gautam Mukhopadhaya, another former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, said Min Aung Hlaing "is trying to acquire greater regional and international respectability as an elected president".For India, the visit reflects a long-standing view that strategic interests in Myanmar outweigh concerns about the nature of the government in Nay Pyi Taw.Bhatia said India has three broad interests in Myanmar: stability along its north-eastern frontier, the success of its Act East policy and managing the strategic implications of China's growing influence in the country.Myanmar occupies a key place in India's regional strategy as the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that shares a land border with India.Bhatia said the visit can have a "positive impact" on Asean countries, as they "strive to develop a coherent approach to the Myanmar question".AFP via ImagesThe conflict following the 2021 coup forced thousands of Burmese people to cross border and take refuge in India's north-eastern states of Mizoram and ManipurAnalysts also pointed to Myanmar's importance in the wider strategic competition between India and China. The country provides China with a route to the Bay of Bengal, reducing Beijing's dependence on the Strait of Malacca for some trade and energy supplies.Mukhopadhaya says since 2017, China has widened its influence in Myanmar and become more open about supporting its military leadership in pursuit of its own strategic and economic interests.The India visit also comes against the backdrop of Myanmar's
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