India supports Myanmar peace process: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday underscored that India supports the Myanmar peace process.

"India supports the Myanmar peace process. Comprehensive peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar will also be conducive for the peace and prosperity of the North eastern States of India," MEA's official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, in response to a query on India's presence at the signing of National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Myanmar.

India extended its support to the NCA in Myanmar with Deputy NSA (National Security Advisor) Rajinder Khanna present at the signing ceremony.

Two ethnic rebel groups on Tuesday joined Myanmar's long-delayed peace process, a small step forward in ending decades of civil strife.

The signings of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw, by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) were the first since the original eight groups joined in 2015 under the previous military government.

"Given the positive bilateral relationship between India and Myanmar and the significance for India of the Myanmar peace process, Myanmar had earlier invited India (together with China, Japan, Thailand, UN and EU) to sign the NCA as international witnesses in October 2015 NSA Ajit Doval had represented India on that occasion," MEA said, in a statement.

"Today's event is another step in the process with two more parties, the NMSP and the LDU, agreeing to sign the NCA. The presence of our representative demonstrates India's continued support to the peace process in Myanmar, "the statement added.