India stresses Myanmar political reforms

NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- India urged Myanmar's military junta Wednesday to introduce broad-based political reforms and begin "national reconciliation."

"The process has to be broad based to include all sections of society, including Aung San Suu Kyi (a pro-democracy leader under house arrest) and the various ethnic groups in Myanmar," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was quoted by the Statesman as saying to visiting Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.

The Indian government said the visiting official also met with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss recent initiatives taken by his regime, the newspaper reported.

The BBC reported India and Myanmar, formerly called Burma, are expected to proceed with a $100 million transportation improvement project.

The report said the foreign minister is the highest-ranking Myanmar official to visit India since September's military crackdown on Buddhist monks in the Myanmar capital.

The visit comes amid reports India has stopped arms sales and transfer to Myanmar in face of criticism it has not used its influence, along with China, to pressure the military junta to stop its crackdown on democracy. The Washington Post has reported the Indian decision has not been announced officially, but has been privately confirmed to U.S. officials.