Myanmar’s instability is fueling insurgency in India’s northeast

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In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rebranded the ‘Look East Policy’ as the ‘Act East Policy’ and revitalised it with three primary objectives: First, to enhance trade, investment, and cultural relations between emerging India and Southeast Asia, particularly the ASEAN countries. Second, the Policy emphasised creating opportunities and stabilising India’s unstable and conflict-prone North-Eastern Region (NER). Third, it endeavours to counter China’s growing economic and military power in neighbouring Myanmar, both bilaterally and in collaboration with like-minded ASEAN countries. The country is crucial for India’s aspirations to increase its influence in Southeast Asia, specifically among the Association of Southeast Asian...