India maintains close ties with Myanmar's controversial military leaders

Indian military intelligence Major General Charanjeet Singh Dewgun meets junta No.3 Maung Maung Aye in Naypayitaw on June 12, 2024/

The “world’s largest democracy” continued on Wednesday to cozy up to one of the world’s most savage dictatorships.

That’s when India’s Joint Director-General of Military Intelligence, Major General Charanjeet Singh Dewgun, led a delegation from the subcontinent to Naypyitaw, the junta’s nerve center, to pay a courtesy call on General Maung Maung Aye, the junta’s No. 3, The Irrawaddy reports.

The general has been sanctioned by western governments for undermining democracy in Myanmar, but as chief of general staff for the military, Maung Maung Aye oversees the army, navy and air force, playing a role in procuring weapons for them.

The Indian defense official and the sanctioned general discussed deepening ties between their armed forces by increasing exchanges of personnel, and working more closely on border stability, security and law enforcement.

Most members of the international community shun Myanmar’s junta for its barbaric violations of human rights, but neighboring India has – since the 2021 coup – strengthened military ties with the generals. It sends a high-level officer about every four months to maintain personal ties with them. These meetings generally end with smiles for cameras and the exchange of souvenirs.

Wednesday’s meeting followed a visit to Myanmar in May by India’s Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence), Air Vice Marshal Ichettira Iyappa Kuttappa. He met junta air force chief Tun Aung in Naypyitaw as airstrikes were slaughtering civilians in impoverished villages.

The pair discussed progress, junta media reported. By this, they meant cooperation between the two air forces, the sending of junta trainees to India and technical assistance.

The Indian air vice marshal’s visit was followed by two air strikes in Sagaing Region that killed at least 40 people and maimed dozens more.

The world’s biggest democracy is better known in Myanmar as the third-biggest supplier of arms and equipment to its military. It trails only Russia and China, rights group Justice for Myanmar noted in a March report. It urged governments and companies that do business with India’s military and defense industry to use their leverage to urge New Delhi to ban all support for Myanmar’s junta.

In October, India’s Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri, flew to Myanmar to attend a junta-organized anniversary event to mark the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. During his trip, he met junta boss Min Aung Hlaing and discussed India’s assistance in Myanmar’s peace process, regime media reported.

In February, India’s Lieutenant General Harjeet Singh Sahi, the General Officer Commanding III Corps, paid a call on deputy junta chief Soe Win in Naypyitaw.

India supplies the regime with weapons to attack resistance troops and civilians and helps it develop its military, engage in diplomacy, and develop the economy. It is also providing assistance for the junta’s proposed election.