Jaishankar Meets Myanmar's President U Min Aung Hlaing in Delhi, Discusses Trade, Connectivity

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recent meeting with Myanmar's President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi signals India's continued, pragmatic engagement with the junta amidst a deepening civil conflict. This high-stakes bilateral underscores India's strategic balancing act, prioritizing border stability, regional connectivity projects like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP), and countering geostrategic rivals over outright condemnation of the military regime. This isn't merely diplomacy; it's a strategic recalibration under the banner of India's Act East Policy, given the intensifying civil war where the Tatmadaw faces widespread resistance from Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and the People's Defense Force (PDF). The conflict has spurred significant refugee flows across the 1,600 km India-Myanmar border and jeopardizes critical infrastructure initiatives. India's approach diverges from ASEAN largely unfulfilled Five-Point Consensus, focusing instead on tangible security and economic interests in a volatile neighborhood. Observers will be watching for concrete outcomes regarding the KMMTTP operationalization, especially its road segments, which remain vulnerable to insurgent activity. Further, any Indian commitment to enhanced cross-border trade or development assistance will be scrutinized for its implicit legitimization of the State Administration Council (SAC). The immediate challenge for Delhi remains fostering stability without appearing to endorse the junta's human rights record, a diplomatic tightrope that shows no sign of easing.