India’s former ambassador to Myanmar has suggested integrating North east India's issues in its Indo-Pacific strategy.

India’s former ambassador to Myanmar has suggested integrating North east India's issues in its Indo-Pacific strategy.

India’s former ambassador to Myanmar has suggested integrating North east India's issues in its Indo-Pacific strategy. Need to Integrate- Domestic Challenges of Northeast: Smuggling, drug trafficking, transnational border crime, insurgent activity, and the influx of refugees (from Myanmar) are non-traditional threats to North east India. China was viewed as a ‘constant player’ behind these nefarious activities. Cultural Diplomacy : Integration would help to expand the reach of cultural diplomacy and people-­to-­people cooperation through greater educational exchanges, tourism, and trade is desirable.  Broad view of Indo-Pacific: Moving beyond geopolitics and geo-economics, neighbours should focus on “the geo­-cultural dimension” of the Indo­-Pacific. ‘ Think and Relate East ’: In implementing India’s Indo­-Pacific strategy, voices from Northeast and eastern India must be heard. Thus, beyond ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ lies ‘Think and Relate East’, especially within our own country. The Indo…