Myanmar’s civil war and India’s interests

Subject: IR

Sec: Places in news

About News:

A few weeks ago, the Arakan Army captured Paletwa in the Chin State which lies on Myanmar’s western borders with Bangladesh and India.
The developments in Paletwa will impact the Indian government’s Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar, which has already faced significant delays.
The Arakan Army, along with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, is part of the Three Brotherhood alliance, which some claim has China’s support.
Unlike India, China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which prompts many state and nonstate actors in need of international support to be relatively more accommodating of China’s concerns.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project:

Kaladan Project would link India and Myanmar via the Bay of Bengal.
It was jointly identified by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for the shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar.
It is being constructed by India under the Grant in Aid Scheme.
Once completed, it will link Kolkata with the Sittwe seaport in Rakhine state in Myanmar, primarily over the Bay of Bengal – covering over 500 km.
The project envisaged four important stages:
- Kolkata to Sittwe waterway;
- Sittwe to Paletwa inland (River Kaladan) waterway;
- Paletwa to India-Myanmar border post in Myanmar;
- Finally, linking the road to Lawngtlai in Mizoramas part of the project’s last leg;

Benefits:

The project is expected to contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India.
It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.