"New Delhi needs to keep thing stable" :::: Former Indian Army commander Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni (Retd) is one of the international observers for Myanmar polls : Panels have representatives from China, Russia and Vietnam too

Timely strategic move by India !!  

Former Indian Army commander Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni (Retd), who also served in north east, is one of the international observers for Myanmar polls.

The crucial international Panels also have representatives from China, Russia and Vietnam

As the 2025 Multiparty Democratic General Election gets underway ... international election observation teams from Russia, China, India, and Vietnam arrived in Yangon. 

International election observers include Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Kara-ool Sholban, 

Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Deng Xijun, 

** - former Army Commander of India Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni, 

-- a delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Commission of Kazakhstan Yerman Mukhtar, 

- a delegation led by National Election Committee (NEC) member Yich Samethy, and Nguyen Duc Thinh from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.   

The visiting teams were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein and regional ministers, Russian Ambassador to Myanmar Iskander Azizov and embassy officials, the Union Election Commission member in charge of the Yangon Region, and officials from the Union Election Commission and the Yangon Region Election Sub-commission.  

Analysts say New Delhi might have taken a far-reaching decision vis-a-vis India's crucial eastern neighbour -- which was underestimated and ignored over the decades in the past.

But India's newly christened Act East Policy has a different perspective and has a key role for Myanmar.

One informed source in the know of things say -- "We have to keep the right balance. We can't be any longer lecturing a country about democracy and be guided by western lobbies on who shall rule Myanmar".

In India's own national interests; keeping a close ties with Myanmar irrespective of who so ever is in power is vital. "I call it a balanced strategy ... we have to affirm the election results .... otherwise Myanmar as a neighbouring country may slide towards certain forces which may not be strategically good".

Another observer was more candid stating - "While western and northern fronts of India are mostly in news .... we also have a troublesome eastern neighbour in Bangladesh. At least on this far-east and north east; New Delhi needs to keep thing stable".

Lt Gen Sahni (retd) commanded units in challenging areas, including a Self-Propelled Regiment in deserts, a Mountain Artillery Brigade in North East counter-insurgency including Nagaland and an Independent Infantry Brigade in J&K.

He also served as GOC-in-C (Army Commander), Director General Information Technology, and Principal Staff Officer at Army HQ.

  

ends