Tue Oct 2, 1:20 AM ET

NEW DELHI - India has urged Myanmar's military regime to launch a probe into its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests, the foreign ministry said, as New Delhi expressed its concern at the situation.

The message was passed on at a meeting between Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Myanmar counterpart U Nyan Win on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

Mukherjee "expressed the hope that the process of national reconciliation and political reform, initiated by the government of Myanmar, would be taken forward expeditiously," it said.

The Indian minister "suggested that the (Myanmar) government could consider undertaking an inquiry into recent incidents and the use of force."

Myanmar also figured in Mukherjee's meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, the foreign ministry said.

Last week, Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon met UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari ahead of the latter's visit to Myanmar.

"These meetings took place in context of India's continuing engagement on these issues," the foreign ministry added.

The statement came amid mounting international criticism of New Delhi's low-key reaction to the authoritarian regime's brutal suppression of the month-long protests.

New Delhi had last week expressed "concern" and urged dialogue to resolve differences.

Analysts say India is walking a diplomatic tightrope, balancing energy and strategic concerns with a commitment to democracy.

India, which rolled out the red carpet for military strongman Than Shwe in a 2004 visit, was until the mid-1990s a staunch supporter of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

New Delhi kept the military junta at arm's length after the 1988 crackdown on democracy protests, but changed track when it decided its security interests in the northeast were in jeopardy.

Since India began engaging the Myanmar generals, both sides have cooperated in flushing out northeastern rebels along the joint border.

India is also vying with China and other Asian countries for a share of Myanmar's vast energy resources -- triggering accusations of weakening US and European economic sanctions.