India Cannot Forge Bonds With Southeast Asia Ignoring Issues of Its Northeast Region The landlocked Northeastern part of India suffers from development and democratic deficit, which not only affects the region but also India's 'Act East' Policy. Indiaâs 1600 kilometre long border with Myanmar has not meant greater connectivity due to longpending issues. Photo: Reuters World11/Feb/2021 The liberalisation of the Indian economy in the early 1990s under prime minister Narasimha Rao was accompanied by a reevaluation of the countryâs foreign policy. A renewed focus on Southeast Asia was a major outcome of this reevaluation and it became known as âLook East Policyâ (LEP), which was later rechristened as âAct East Policyâ.