Election in Myanmar : How should India play its cards?

For India, the dilemma is not Junta versus democracy but passivity vs pragmatism. Navigating this fractured frontier demands realism

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To counter this, India’s priorities should be threefold: Firstly, Strengthen maritime domain awareness and littoral surveillance to blunt any expansion of external military reach into the Bay of Bengal; Secondly, pursue a dual-track engagement. Sustain official ties with the Junta for essential coordination, while building quiet, transactional relations with ethnic administrations that can secure local stability, humanitarian corridors, and mineral access by giving refuge. And providing medical and emergency assistance and even food and other civil supplies; Thirdly, diversify rare earth supply chains by investing in domestic processing, partnering with trusted Southeast Asian suppliers, and possibly rebuilding the old Stillwell Road built during World War 2 to supply Nationalist China in its war against Japan through North Myanmar.

Whoever controls Myanmar’s mines controls a crucial link in the 2ist century's strategic supply chain. China has long understood this. The Americans have recently woken up to this and are trying to be players in the game.