India and Myanmar Neighbourhood Bordering States Representations

India Myanmar Neighbourhood Relations has historical linkage. Both the nations under colonial British rule.

India Myanmar Neighbourhood Relations and overview

• India-Myanmar border is 1,643 km
  • Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India from Kachin State, Sagaing Region and Chin State in Myanmar/Burma.
  • India and Myanmar also share a maritime border along India’s Andaman Islands.
• India established diplomatic relations after Myanmar’s independence from Great Britain in 1948.
  • Both are a part of colonial rule.
  • 1951 both signed the Treaty of Friendship.
• In 1960’s the nationalisation policy in Myanmar leads to the frictions between states.
  • During this period India-Mtanmar signed Land Boundary Agreement (1967) and Maritime Boundary Agreement in (1968)
• In late 1980’s the relation worst as a result of the suppression of pro democracy in Myanmar.
• With the Look East policy in 1991 the ties becomes normalise and seen a strong base with several visit between the officials.

Cooperation between the states

• Infrastructure
  • • Upgradation and resurfacing of the 160 km. long Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road, Construction and upgradation of the Rhi-Tiddim Road in Myanmar; the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project; etc.
    • India and Myanmar have agreed to a 4-lane, 3200 km triangular highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand called India-Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Highway. 
• Economic Relations
  • • India’s imports from Myanmar are dominated by agricultural items (beans, pulses and forest based products form 90% of our imports).
    • India’s main exports to Myanmar are primary and semi-finished steel and pharmaceuticals.
    • Myanmar is also a beneficiary country under India’s Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for LDCs.
• Cultural Relations and Indian Diaspora
  • • Performances by Indian cultural troupes in Myanmar have been organised on a regular basis since 1997.
    • Indian community in Myanmar is traced back to the mid-19th century with the advent of the British rule in Lower Burma in 1852.
    • The NRI families in Myanmar mainly live in Yangon and are engaged in export import business or are employees of MNCs based in India, Singapore and Thailand.
• Various Co operations in Organisation
  • • SAARC : Myanmar was given the status of observer in SAARC in August 2008.
    • BIMSTEC : Myanmar became a member of BIMSTEC in December 1997. Myanmar is a signatory to the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement. Myanmar is the lead country for the energy sector. Myanmar trades mostly with Thailand and India in the BIMSTEC region.
    • ASEAN : Myanmar became a member of ASEAN in July 1997. As the only ASEAN
      country which shares a land border with India, Myanmar is a bridge between India and
      ASEAN.
    • Mekong Ganga Cooperation : Myanmar is a member of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) since its inception in November 2000. MGC is an initiative by six countries – India and five ASEAN countries namely, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – for cooperation in the fields of tourism, education, culture, transport and communication.
    • Indian Ocean Rim Association : Aims for Regional Cooperation, is an international organisation consisting of 22 states bordering the Indian Ocean.

Various Concerns and Security Issues

• Indian Insurgant Group like United Liberations Frot of Asam, Manipuri People’s Liberation Army, National Socialist Council of Nagaland and Kamptapur Liberation Orginisations fighting for their homeland. 
  • They carry ou anti national activities and illegal activities like smuggling, trafficking, drugs etc.
  • Most of these groups have base in Myanmar and use Myanmar as a conduit to secure arms and communications.
• Bordering with India it is a great concerns. 
• India-Myanmar signed Treaty of Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters provides a counter terrorism measures.
• Indian and Myanmar troops carried out jointly Operation Sunrise and Operation Sunrise 2 in 2019 in their respective territories to destroy several insurgent camps. However the threat to the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, India’s gateway to Southeast Asia continues.
• Besides China’s engagement with Myanmar is a matter of great concerns.
  • China is the major provider of Myanmar military hardware.
  • China also access to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar and exploitation of natural resources.

Also Read | International Organisations

Source : Consulate General of India