New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday told his Myanmar counterpart U Than Shwe that India supports the return of democracy in Myanmar even as it pushed hard for the early return of "illegally" detained Indians. by gangs involved in cyber scams in the city of Myawaddy. .
In a meeting with U Than Shwe, Jaishankar also raised the issue of flow of illegal narcotics, arms trade and activities of insurgent groups along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The talks took place on the sidelines of a retreat session of foreign ministers of BIMSTEC group member countries in Delhi.
"I met DPM and Myanmar FM U Than Swe on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' retreat. We shared our concerns on border stability and flow of displaced people," Jaishankar said on 'X'.
"I also spoke on issues of illegal narcotics and arms trade and activities of insurgent groups. I pushed strongly for the early return of Indians illegally detained by cyber fraud gangs," he said.
"India supports the return to democracy in Myanmar and engages all stakeholders in this regard," the external affairs minister added.
Myanmar has seen widespread violent protests demanding the restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021.
Jaishankar also met Than Shwe, also Myanmar's deputy prime minister, last month when he passed through Delhi while returning to Myanmar from a foreign trip.
Several parts of Myanmar have witnessed intense fighting between the military junta and resistance forces. Resistance forces have already captured several cities.
Anti-junta forces took control of several military bases and a command center in Myawaddy in April.
India has also been concerned about fake job scams in Myanmar.
About five weeks ago, the Indian embassy in Myanmar asked Indian citizens seeking work in that country to be careful not to be lured into fake or illegal jobs.
In an advisory, the embassy said an international crime syndicate is active in the Myawaddy region on the Myanmar-Thai border and urged Indians to exercise caution before accepting job offers in the region.
Around 100 Indians are known to be currently stuck in Myawaddy after falling victim to job scams.
Separately, the foreign ministers of India, Thailand and Myanmar also held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the withdrawal.
Besides India, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
Challenges arising from instability in Myanmar figured in the trilateral meeting. Like India, Thailand also shares a border with Myanmar.
"I held a trilateral meeting with my counterparts from Thailand, FM @AmbPoohMaris, and Myanmar DPM and FM U Than Swe. Our discussions focused on connectivity projects, so crucial to the future of BIMSTEC," Jaishankar posted on 'X'.
"They also exchanged views on border stability and humanitarian assistance. The fight against transnational crimes, including cyber, narcotics and illegal weapons, is a shared priority of the three nations. We will continue to cooperate in that regard," he said .
Resistance forces in Myanmar have already captured many key trading points along the borders with India, China and Bangladesh.
Rakhine State and many other regions have reported serious clashes between armed ethnic groups and the Burmese army since October last year.
Hostilities between the two sides have seen a rapid escalation since November in several key cities and regions of Myanmar near the border with India, besides fueling concerns in New Delhi about possible ramifications for the security of Manipur and Mizoram.
Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbors and shares a 1,640-kilometre-long border with several militancy-affected northeastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur.
In view of violence and instability in Myanmar's border areas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in January announced a plan to fence the border.
In a meeting with U Than Shwe, Jaishankar also raised the issue of flow of illegal narcotics, arms trade and activities of insurgent groups along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The talks took place on the sidelines of a retreat session of foreign ministers of BIMSTEC group member countries in Delhi.
"I met DPM and Myanmar FM U Than Swe on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' retreat. We shared our concerns on border stability and flow of displaced people," Jaishankar said on 'X'.
"I also spoke on issues of illegal narcotics and arms trade and activities of insurgent groups. I pushed strongly for the early return of Indians illegally detained by cyber fraud gangs," he said.
"India supports the return to democracy in Myanmar and engages all stakeholders in this regard," the external affairs minister added.
Myanmar has seen widespread violent protests demanding the restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021.
Jaishankar also met Than Shwe, also Myanmar's deputy prime minister, last month when he passed through Delhi while returning to Myanmar from a foreign trip.
Several parts of Myanmar have witnessed intense fighting between the military junta and resistance forces. Resistance forces have already captured several cities.
Anti-junta forces took control of several military bases and a command center in Myawaddy in April.
India has also been concerned about fake job scams in Myanmar.
About five weeks ago, the Indian embassy in Myanmar asked Indian citizens seeking work in that country to be careful not to be lured into fake or illegal jobs.
In an advisory, the embassy said an international crime syndicate is active in the Myawaddy region on the Myanmar-Thai border and urged Indians to exercise caution before accepting job offers in the region.
Around 100 Indians are known to be currently stuck in Myawaddy after falling victim to job scams.
Separately, the foreign ministers of India, Thailand and Myanmar also held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the withdrawal.
Besides India, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
Challenges arising from instability in Myanmar figured in the trilateral meeting. Like India, Thailand also shares a border with Myanmar.
"I held a trilateral meeting with my counterparts from Thailand, FM @AmbPoohMaris, and Myanmar DPM and FM U Than Swe. Our discussions focused on connectivity projects, so crucial to the future of BIMSTEC," Jaishankar posted on 'X'.
"They also exchanged views on border stability and humanitarian assistance. The fight against transnational crimes, including cyber, narcotics and illegal weapons, is a shared priority of the three nations. We will continue to cooperate in that regard," he said .
Resistance forces in Myanmar have already captured many key trading points along the borders with India, China and Bangladesh.
Rakhine State and many other regions have reported serious clashes between armed ethnic groups and the Burmese army since October last year.
Hostilities between the two sides have seen a rapid escalation since November in several key cities and regions of Myanmar near the border with India, besides fueling concerns in New Delhi about possible ramifications for the security of Manipur and Mizoram.
Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbors and shares a 1,640-kilometre-long border with several militancy-affected northeastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur.
In view of violence and instability in Myanmar's border areas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in January announced a plan to fence the border.
