Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday commenced an official state visit to India, marking his first trip to the neighboring country since assuming the presidency in April.

The visit follows a recent Myanmar election that was widely criticized by political opponents as a strategic move to preserve military rule.

According to Myanmar’s state-run broadcaster MRTV, Min Aung Hlaing departed from the capital city of Naypyitaw and safely arrived at Gaya International Airport in the Indian state of Bihar.

During his high-level diplomatic visit, the Myanmar leader is scheduled to hold formal bilateral meetings with Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior government officials, and prominent corporate business representatives.

National discussions between the two neighboring states are expected to focus heavily on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding mutual cooperation across critical economic, cultural, religious, and social sectors.

The Myanmar leader, accompanied by a delegation of his cabinet members, will also physically tour several key infrastructure projects across India.

India has consistently maintained active engagement with Myanmar’s military-led administration, breaking away from the strict international sanctions imposed by Western nations following the 2021 military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

That coup originally triggered widespread civil unrest, intensive armed conflict, and a prolonged humanitarian crisis across Myanmar.

Sharing a massive 1,643-kilometer land border alongside a strategic maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal, India officially regards Myanmar as a crucial partner for regional security.

The two nations have historically worked together on synchronized border management and deep intelligence cooperation to systematically address insurgent activities in volatile frontier areas.

Additionally, India currently hosts thousands of displaced refugees who have fled escalating violence in Myanmar, particularly from conflict-affected regions such as Chin state.

However, the state visit has drawn sharp criticism from prominent pro-democracy activists. Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung publicly stated that hosting Min Aung Hlaing risks legitimizing a government that stands accused of serious human rights violations.

In an official statement issued on Friday, she urgently pressed India to reconsider its diplomatic and material support for Myanmar’s military authorities—including ongoing military cooperation and business relations—and urged the Indian government to instead back the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of an inclusive federal democracy.

Source: AP