Asian Confluence hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion titled “India’s Neighbourhood: Myanmar and the Evolving Regional Landscape” at the Asian Confluence Centre, Shillong, on March 11, 2026. The discussion brought together academics and policymakers to examine the implications of Myanmar’s ongoing crisis for India and the wider region.

The discussion was attended by Ms. Aparna Ray, Joint Secretary (PP&R and CCCS), Ministry of External Affairs, along with a high-level delegation from the MEA’s PP&R Division, Centre for Contemporary China Studies (CCCS), and Border Cell. 

The roundtable examined political and security developments in Myanmar and their implications for India’s Act East Policy. Discussions focused on developments along the Indo–Myanmar border, including border fencing and changes to the Free Movement Regime (FMR). Participants also assessed the implications for regional connectivity initiatives, particularly the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway. The discussion highlighted the need for sustained regional engagement and coordinated policy responses, while balancing national security concerns, economic interests, and the livelihoods of communities living along the border.