India discusses Rohingya refugees issue with Myanmar

India Monday Has reportedly raised the issue of an  early repatriation of the Rohingya refugees with Myanmar_ as a  close friend_ partner and neighbour of that country as well as Bangladesh. The issue was discussed in detail by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane during a two-day visit to Myanmar that concluded Monday. India had not sent such a high-powered delegation to Myanmar in the recent past. During the visit_ the foreign secretary and Army chief called on State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services_ Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Diplomatic sources said India has leveraged the issue of Rohingya refugees based on the fact that it continues to be a  close friend_ partner_ and neighbour of both Bangladesh and Myanmar_ and has a  deep and abiding interest to see an early stabilisation of the situation in the Rakhine State . India has informed Myanmar that New Delhi  fully understands the urgency of this situation and_ thus_ it has committed to humanitarian efforts in both Myanmar and Bangladesh to facilitate  an early return of the displaced persons _ according to sources. The Rohingyas are an ethnic minority group_ who are predominantly Muslims_ based in Myanmar s Rakhine State. Thousands of Rohingyas had to flee the state due to an ongoing decades-long conflict between the Myanmar Army and rebels from Arakan Army. The repatriation of Rohingya refugees_ about one million of whom presently reside in Bangladesh_ was raised by Dhaka with New Delhi last month. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen took it up on priority with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission meeting. India already runs a Rakhine State Development Project in order to help the Myanmar government to bring back the refugees and provide them a stable life there. Talks on infrastructure projects_ security in border areas During the visit_ the Army Chief Naravane separately met Vice Senior General Soe Win_ deputy commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Services_ while Foreign Secretary Shringla met U Soe Han_ permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides also discussed progress of the ongoing Indian-assisted infrastructure projects such as the Trilateral Highway_ and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.  The two sides discussed maintenance of security and stability in their border areas_ and reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other. The Indian side expressed their appreciation to Myanmar for handing over of 22 cadres of Indian Insurgent Groups to India_ said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. India also announced a grant of $2 million for the construction of a  border haat bridge at Byanyu-Sarsichauk in Chin State_ that is expected to provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and Myanmar. Before that In August_ India provided Myanmar $5 million as the annual contribution under a border area development programme that was started in 2012. The programme was initially meant to last five years_ and it was later extended till 2022. It has led to the implementation of around 140 projects in Myanmar s Chin state and Naga Self-Administered Zone. -Source: The Print