PM Modi holds talks with Bhutan King Jigme Khesar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck held talks here on Tuesday on the entire gamut of bilateral ties between the two nations and security issues that encompassed the border territorial dispute between Bhutan and China, including the Doklam plateau issue as well as Indian development assistance to Bhutan in sectors like hydroelectric power.

New Delhi said later that it was following the border issue closely and would take all measures to protect its national interests. The visit comes amid Chinese efforts to strengthen its communication channels with Bhutan and a perception that Bhutan too has considerably softened its stand on China, that has raised some concerns in New Delhi.

Modi tweeted: “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 Gyalpos in guiding India-Bhutan relations to new heights.” The Bhutan King is on a three-day visit to India that will end on Wednesday.

At a special MEA briefing on Tuesday, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at the talks, the Bhutan King had briefed Modi about initiatives to “transform and reform” the Himalayan kingdom, with the PM assuring all support for the socio-economic development of Bhutan and cooperation.

India also agreed to step up its support to Bhutan’s upcoming 13th Five-Year Plan. At Bhutan’s request, India also agreed to work to extend an additional standby credit facility that would be over and above the two existing standby credit facilities operating between the two countries.

New Delhi also agreed to develop long-term bilateral arrangements for supply of critical commodities to Bhutan including petroleum, fertilisers and coal. India also agreed to consider positively the Bhutanese request to sell power from its Basochhu hydroelectric project.       

The foreign secretary referred to India’s extremely close security ties with Bhutan and hailed these as “intertwined and indivisible”, adding that New Delhi’s position on the tri-junction border between the three nations (India, China and Bhutan) was well-known.

“The Government of India very closely follows all developments which have a bearing on our national interest and we would take all necessary measures to safeguard them, as necessary,” he said. It may be noted that India also has a territorial dispute with China in the area, with New Delhi and Beijing reportedly differing on where the tri-junction border should be.

Observers point out that while Bhutan is seen to be keen to resolve its own territorial disputes with China, the issue can’t be clinched in totality unless all three nations — India, China and Bhutan — agree on the tri-junction border separating all three nations. It may be recalled that a military face-off had taken place between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in Bhutanese territory in 2017.

“Both the Bhutan King and the Prime Minister covered the entire gamut of ties and issues of national interest. India and Bhutan are in close touch on their national interests,” Mr Kwatra said, adding the visit had also provided an excellent opportunity to sketch a roadmap to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Speaking on other aspects of bilateral ties, the FS said: “India and Bhutan share an exemplary relationship which is characterised by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding. It’s a time-tested nature of our friendship which was reflected in the support that we provided to Bhutan during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the Vaccine Maitri programme, as also in the expansion of our partnership into … digital domain, space, financial connectivity and increasing interoperability.”

On the border issue, last week, Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering had said: “Last month, a Bhutanese delegation visited China, and we are now awaiting the arrival of a Chinese technical team in Bhutan. After one or two more meetings, we will probably be able to draw a line.” On the Doklam issue, the Bhutan PM was quoted as having said: “Doklam is a junction point between India, China and Bhutan. It is not up to Bhutan alone to fix the problem. There are three of us. There is no big or small country; all are three equal countries, each counting for one-third.”