As Myanmar is witnessing clashes between its security forces and the armed resistance groups, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Bangkok for informal consultations with Myanmar’s neighbours on the situation in the country. Two days of meetings on Myanmar's violent political crisis took place this Thursday and Friday in the Thai capital Bangkok, the latest in a long series of regional talks that have made no headway in restoring peace to the war-torn Southeast Asian nation. Thursday's discussions were attended by foreign ministers and high-level representatives from Myanmar and its neighbours, Laos, China, India, Bangladesh and host Thailand. Confirming that Misri visited Bangkok for the informal consultations, the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, “Our position on Myanmar has been consistent. We call for cessation of violence and a peaceful resolution of the ethnic issue through the establishment of a genuine federal democracy. This process should be Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned and should take into account the views of all stakeholders to ensure an inclusive peace and return to stability in Myanmar. The land boundary neighbours of Myanmar have a particular set of concerns as well." Myanmar has been wracked by violence since its army in February 2021 ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and violently repressed peaceful pro-democracy protests, leading to the establishment of an armed resistance movement. The military government has used harsh tactics, including air strikes, to suppress its opponents, but the war has only become fiercer, especially in the past year. The six nations attending Thursday's meeting “agreed that direct engagement with Myanmar is critical and necessary,” said Thailand's Foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa. “They see the value of meeting regularly. And they share the same understanding, more so than other countries, because they are direct neighbours directly impacted by the situation in Myanmar.” Thai officials said Thursday's talks "were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, with a frank and constructive exchange of views, in areas related to border security and combating transnational crime, particularly illicit drugs and online scams". They said Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe informed them about the military government's political roadmap, focused on elections planned for next year. China's vice foreign minister Sun Weidong said during the meeting that all parties should support Myanmar in advancing its peace and reconciliation process, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday.
