Summary: "Joint Secretary (SE Asia I) Mitra Vashishta defended India?s policies in Burma in a March 17 meeting with PolCouns and Poloff, suggesting that progress on democratic reforms was dependent on engagement with the Burmese body politic, and warning that the USG focus on Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) could backfire. Foreign Minister Natwar Singh leaves for a four-day visit to Burma on March 24, but MEA contacts tell us not to expect significant new developments, despite press reports speculating about the reopening of the "Stilwell Road." Vashishta did not believe Bangladesh would cooperate on a potential gas pipeline from Burma to India, suggesting that the project will remain hypothetical." End Summary.