India ‘concerned’ over situation in Rakhine province

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to neighbour Myanmar from September 5 to 7, India on Friday said it was “greatly concerned” at the situation in the Rakhine province of that country where fighting is on between the Myanmar security forces and Rohingya insurgents. When asked about Rohingya Muslims staying in India, New Delhi also said there was no change in its refugee policy but made it clear it will continue to follow its policy to deal with illegal immigrants. Security issues and increased anti-terrorism cooperation between the two neighbours are expected to be discussed during PM Modi’s visit to Myanmar and comes at a time when China too has been eager to expand its influence in the south-east Asian nation. New Delhi also made it clear that its security forces carried out operations in 2015 “along the border” with Myanmar thereby seeking to avoid any controversy in the wake of reports at the time that the surgical strike by the Indian Army had been carried out against terrorists in Myanmar that year.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that PM Modi would visit the Capital Nay Pyi Taw followed by visits to Bagan and Yangon. PM Modi will hold talks with the top leadership in Myanmar including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He will visit the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon besides a Hindu Temple there and will also pay tributes at the grave of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.

The situation in Rakhine is a “matter of great concern”, a senior MEA official said on Friday, adding, “A large number of people have lost their lives.”

Just recently, the MEA had said, “India is seriously concerned by reports of renewed violence and attacks by terrorists in northern Rakhine State Myanmar.”

The MEA, on Friday, said the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project is on track and also hoped that the Kaladan transport project in which India is a participant would boost the economy of Myanmar.