Modi meets Suu Kyi, expresses concern over violence in Rakhine

Nay Pyi Taw : India said on Wednesday that it shares Myanmar’s concerns over the violence in the Rakhine state and asked all stakeholders to preserve the country’s unity and territorial integrity, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Modi’s first bilateral visit here comes at a time when the Myanmarese government is facing international pressure over the 1,25,000 Rohingya refugees that have poured across the Bangladeshi border in just two weeks after Myanmar’s military crackdown in the Rakhine state. The Prime Minister, at a joint press statement with Suu Kyi, also asserted that India stands by Myanmar amid the challenges the country is facing. Modi and Suu Kyi held talks and discussed ways to further cement the bilateral relations. After the talks, Modi said India shares concerns over the violence in the Rakhine state where there has been a loss of innocent lives of people and military personnel. He said that when it comes to the peace process or solving a problem, “We want all stake holders to work towards preserving Myanmar’s unity and territorial integrity.” Suu Kyi, in her remarks, thanked India for taking a strong stand on the terror threat that Myanmar faced recently.