Modi meets Myanmar's military-backed president as India says engagement will continue

NEW DELHI, June 2 (AP): India said it will continue engaging with Myanmar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks Monday with the leader of the country's military-backed government, despite Western sanctions imposed after the military seized power in 2021.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi that India's policy is "not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangements" in Myanmar and that New Delhi believes engagement is the best way forward.
Western nations have sought to isolate Myanmar's military rulers since they ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup that triggered a crackdown on opponents and a nationwide conflict and humanitarian crisis. Some critics and human rights groups have said Min Aung Hlaing's visit to India risks lending legitimacy to the military-backed government.
"We have always proceeded on the principle that sustained dialogue is what is important," Misri said, adding that isolating Myanmar would be counterproductive.
"History has shown that disengagement doesn't give us any results that are better than engagement," he said.
The visit is Min Aung Hlaing's first to India since he was sworn in as president in April following an election that critics say was designed to cement the military's hold on power. His last visit to India was in 2019, when he served as Myanmar's military chief.