The head of Myanmar’s military-backed administration arrived in India on Saturday for official diplomatic discussions with key regional partners, according to state media reports.
Min Aung Hlaing’s journey marks his inaugural official trip to India since taking the presidential oath in April after elections that opposition voices claim were designed to preserve military control. His previous visit to India occurred in 2019 while serving as military commander.
Despite Western sanctions following the military’s 2021 overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected administration and subsequent nationwide conflict, India has continued diplomatic relations with Myanmar’s military leadership.
According to state-controlled MRTV television, Min Aung Hlaing flew from Naypyitaw on Saturday morning, touching down at Gaya International Airport in Bihar state, close to the Buddhist pilgrimage destination of Bodh Gaya.
The broadcast indicated he would conduct discussions with India’s President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with government ministers and business community leaders, focusing on enhancing partnerships across economic, religious, cultural and social areas.
Cabinet members are traveling with the president, who will also tour significant infrastructure projects during his stay, MRTV reported.
The two nations share a 1,643-kilometer border and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. India currently shelters thousands of Myanmar refugees who escaped violence in Chin state and other conflict zones.
Myanmar holds strategic value for India’s security concerns, with both countries collaborating on border protection and intelligence operations against insurgent organizations in frontier areas.
Opposition voices have denounced the visit as providing unwarranted credibility to Myanmar’s military administration.
“We condemn India’s decision to host Min Aung Hlaing, who is a war criminal waging a campaign of terror against the Myanmar people,” said Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson for the Justice For Myanmar activist group, in an emailed statement on Friday.
She said India has long supported Myanmar’s military through military training programs and business ties.
“India must change course, stop awarding false legitimacy to the junta, stop profiting from the military’s campaign of terror against the people, and instead support the Myanmar people who are struggling and sacrificing daily for federal democracy,” said Yadanar Maung.
