By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: During Myanmar junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India from May 30 to June 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly urged the swift completion of the long-pending Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, according to a joint statement issued after their discussions.
Both leaders also reviewed progress on regional connectivity initiatives, including the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which is planned to pass through Rakhine State and central Myanmar before extending into Thailand.
Although key infrastructure components such as the Sittwe deep-sea port in Rakhine State and a terminal at Paletwa in Chin State have already been completed, the 109-km road linking Paletwa to the Indian border remains unfinished. The delay has been attributed to ongoing armed conflict, instability, and logistical challenges in the region.
Much of the project corridor outside Sittwe, including areas like Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw in Rakhine State, as well as Paletwa, is currently under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), complicating construction efforts. Resistance groups have alleged that Myanmar’s military has intensified air and artillery operations in AA-held areas in an attempt to reassert control and revive stalled infrastructure work.
The discussions between Modi and Min Aung Hlaing also covered a broader set of bilateral issues, including trade and investment, defence and security cooperation, border management and mechanisms for direct rupee-kyat transactions.
Reaffirming New Delhi’s position, Modi underscored India’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In response, Min Aung Hlaing assured that Myanmar’s territory would not be used to threaten India’s security interests, particularly in reference to insurgent groups operating along the border in Sagaing Region.