Burma, India and Realpolitik

FT, 30th Sep 07 "India pressed to take lead on democracy":

In private, Indian officials reject criticism. “We’re not bothered about criticism of our relations with Myanmar, given the west’s record in supporting military governments in our neighbourhood,” said one. “We’re not the only democracy that works with generals.”

Brahma Chellaney, a security affairs expert, concurs: “The US is going along with the fraudulent elections in Pakistan while wanting India to do more on Burma. India applies the same principle to Burma as to Pakistan: while it would like democracy to flourish, it will not make it the central plank of its foreign policy in either country.”