New Delhi: Myanmar’s military junta launched the first phase of its 2025 general election amid an ongoing civil war, with state media listing two Indians among the foreign observers. New Delhi, however, insists they hold no official status from the Indian government.Myanmar’s state newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) reported that “election observation teams from Russia, China, India and Vietnam” arrived in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw ahead of the December 28 polls. The reports specifically named retired Indian Army Commander Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni as leading a delegation, documenting his welcome by the Union Election Commission (UEC) at Nay Pyi Taw airport.The reports grouped Sahni’s arrival with high-level officials such as Russian Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Kara-ool Sholban and Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun. The Myanmar information ministry released photos of international observers at a polling station in the capital.Indian government sources told The Wire that New Delhi has not sent an official delegation to observe the elections, and said that the individuals named were taking part in their private capacity. In response to queries, Sahni confirmed from Nay Pyi Taw that he and another Indian delegate, strategic affairs commentator Atul Aneja, were present “on invitation of Myanmar Election Commission”.India’s Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that the elections should be “free, fair and inclusive,” with participation of all stakeholders being “important for the credibility of the electoral exercise”. The ministry has not stated whether India will recognise the results.Former Indian ambassador to Myanmar Gautam Mukhopadhaya said the episode reflected an ambiguous Indian posture on the junta-led polls.“It is curious that we say that a three-star ex-general is not an official nominee and the Myanmar government are treating it as good as an official endorsement,” Mukhopadhyay told The Wire.“We are somewhere between Russia and China, who are sending official observers, and ASEAN, which leads the international approach and is not. It betrays a lack of conviction in our decision and a desire to please both sides,” he said. “While the regime will be happy, the Myanmar public, which will see us on the side of Russia and China, will not. Even Thailand, another neighbour with a big stake in Myanmar, has stuck with the ASEAN majority on this.”Mukhopadhaya added that the choice of invitees itself sent a political signal. “Sending an ex-general as an election observer also suggests that we are keen to please the junta and that we feel they will prevail, as they did after the pro-democracy movement in 1988 to 1990.”People protesting for the release of former Myanmar State Counsellor and deposed NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Photo: UnsplashMyanmar’s military junta is conducting a three-phase general election beginning December 28, the first national vote since the military seized power in a 2021 coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.The junta claimed fraud in elections won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. International observers at the time said the 2020 poll was largely free and fair. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly congratulated Suu Kyi for the victory and “successful conduct of polls”.The coup triggered widespread resistance, evolving into a brutal civil war that has killed an estimated 90,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million.The National League for Democracy (NLD), which won landslide victories in previous free elections, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new party laws, and is not participating in the current election. Suu Kyi remains imprisoned, and most opposition groups have been barred from participating.Most Western countries have refused to recognise the junta as legitimate, and the election has been denounced by several regional governments including Japan and Malaysia. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk denounced the elections for being held amid violence, repression and intimidation, stating no conditions exist for free participation.However, Washington under the Trump administration hinted a change in the long-held United States policy against the junta. In November, it announced the ending of temporary legal status for citizens of Myanmar in the United States, citing the planned elections as one of the signs of “notable progress”.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Myanmar’s own regional bloc, declined to send an official observer mission after discussing the matter at an October summit. The decision exposed deep divisions within ASEAN, which has barred Myanmar’s military leaders from its meetings since 2022 for failing to implement a five-point consensus plan.Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore have taken a harder line against the regime, while Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have advocated for engagement. The bloc left the decision to send observers to individual member states rather than acting collectively.Cambodia and Vietnam sent representatives in their individual capacities. While the Thai foreign minister had earlier said that the elections “could be a step forward” and that observers would be sent, it is not clear if Thailand send a delegation.Russia and China, Myanmar’s biggest backers, also sent high-level delegations, along with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Nicaragua – a roster reflecting the junta’s limited international support base.China’s support has proven crucial to the junta’s survival. After rebel forces made gains over vast territories in a 2023 offensive, Chinese backing helped the military regain ground through new weaponry and diplomatic pressure on ethnic armed groups along the border.China has been active in protecting major infrastructure projects including gas and oil pipelines, and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor linking landlocked Yunnan province to the Indian Ocean. Beijing’s envoys have reportedly brokered the return of territory captured by rebel groups to junta control, including the gemstone and ruby mining hub of Mogok.India’s stakes reflect concerns about Chinese influence in Myanmar, border security and protecting infrastructure projects like the Kaladan port and highway. New Delhi shares a 1,643-kilometre border with Myanmar and hosts over 87,000 Myanmar refugees.This article was updated with more information at 9:48 pm on December 28.