New Delhi, June 2 -- India said it will continue engaging with Myanmar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks Monday with the leader of the country's military-backed government, despite Western sanctions imposed after the military seized power in 2021.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi that India's policy is "not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangements" in Myanmar and that New Delhi believes engagement is the best way forward.

Western nations have sought to isolate Myanmar's military rulers since they ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup that triggered a crackdown on opponents and a nationwide conflict and humanitarian crisis. Some critics and ...