Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday held talks with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, focusing on ways to ramp up bilateral ties and also on the Doklam issue amid the concerns over China’s attempts to expand influence over Thimphu. Sources told The Daily Guardian the Bhutanese King shared with the Prime Minister some key and crucial updates on this issue. The Bhutanese side assured India that Thimphu will not allow its territory to be used for any activities against New Delhi’s interests, sources said.
In fact, certain remarks made recently by Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering on the Doklam tri-junction were seen by many as Thimphu cosying up to Beijing. However, Bhutan has maintained that there is no change in its stances on the border dispute. In a recent interview, Tshering said that China had an equal say in resolving the border dispute in Doklam. So, PM Modi focused on the Doklam issue during talks with the Bhutanese King. The PM also focused on ways to bolster bilateral engagement in a range of areas including economic cooperation.
To a question on the Doklam boundary situation, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at a press conference that “Both his Majesty and PM covered the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation issues and issues of respective national interest. They looked at all the issues.” The Foreign Secretary’s remarks confirm that the Doklam boundary dispute amid China concerns was discussed during the meeting between PM Modi and the Bhutan King. Other security issues were also discussed, sources said. Kwatra also said, “Government of India closely follows all development having bearing on our national interest and we will take all necessary measures to safeguard them.” This was also on Bhutan, China-India border issues. He said that both countries are in touch on Doklam.
“Pleased to receive His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. We had a warm and productive meeting. Deeply value our close friendship and the vision of successive Druk Gyalops in guiding India-Bhutan relations to new heights,” PM Modi said.
In what is being seen as part of development diplomacy by India to woo Bhutan to counter China, New Delhi assured Thimphu of help to support its upcoming 13th five year plan. India also promised to extend an additional standby credit facility to the Himalayan nation. In addition to this, India also promised to help Bhutan for rail link projects. India will allow export of more agricultural products from Bhutan. India will make supply of crucial commodities to Bhutan. An Integrated check post will also be set up. All these measures are being seen as India’s diplomacy aimed at reaching out to Bhutan in a more aggressive way so as to counter Chinese attempts to expand influence in the Himalayan country.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a three-day visit. The Bhutan King has come to India on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. Soon after his arrival, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on him. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also met the King, and touched upon various security issues.
The Modi government accorded Wangchuck a warm welcome, with EAM Jaishankar turning up at the airport to receive him. Though visiting Heads of States are generally received by a Union Minister of State, PM Modi made it a point to send Jaishankar, who is a cabinet minister, to receive the King. In fact, it was apparently a strategy to emphasise on the uniqueness of the relations between India and Bhutan.
Sources said that the Indian side gave a clear message to the Bhutanese King that his country should avoid falling into the trap of China which is seeking to gain a strategic advantage against India. Sources further said that the Bhutanese diplomats accompanying the King assured India that Thimphu will not allow its territory to be used by any country against India’s interests. Moreover, Bhutan will be quite cautious about its own security interests while negotiating anything with China on the boundary dispute.
DOKLAM STANDOFF
In fact, the standoff at Doklam tri-junction in 2017 began after China tried to extend a road in an area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it. India had strongly opposed the construction as it would have impacted its overall security interests. The India-China face-off was resolved following several rounds of talks. In October 2021, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a “three-step roadmap” to expedite negotiations to resolve their festering boundary dispute. Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held over 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute. What worries India is that China is stepping up pressure on Bhutan to hand over huge chunks of land to it. In order to prevent China from expanding influence in Bhutan, New Delhi is deeply involved in the development of this Himalayan country.
Meanwhile, India and Bhutan agreed to strengthen their economic and developmental partnership, with India providing relevant financial support for Bhutan’s 13th five-year plan and its reform projects. Trade, connectivity, and investment cooperation were also discussed, with a focus on infrastructure connectivity such as rail, air, and digital, as well as inland waterways and people-to-people connectivity.
Both countries also discussed long-term and sustainable trade facilitation measures, as well as new paradigms on energy cooperation, including enhancing existing hydro power and moving towards non-hydro renewable space. The meeting also saw the two countries discussing cooperation in new sectors, including space, start-ups, and STEM education.
Additionally, India agreed to step up support for Bhutan’s five-year plan, extend an additional stand-by credit facility, and shape long-term arrangements for the export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan. India also assured the supply of critical commodities to Bhutan. The two countries also agreed to expedite the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link project, which would be the first-ever rail link between India and Bhutan.