Substance and Subtext: On India-Bhutan Ties

Why in the News?

Recently the king of Bhutan paid an official state visit to India. This visit was planned in advance as per MEA, however, it can't be perceived as decoupled with statements given by the PM of Bhutan last month on the Doklam plateau issue and in India these comments were seen as Bhutan is getting close to China.

 

A Background of Doklam Issue

• The Doklam Plateau is situated at the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China.

• In 2017, the Indian and Chinese army soldiers were involved in a tense standoff that lasted more than two months.

• China was illegally constructing a road in the direction of Mount Gipmochi and an adjoining hill called Jhamperi.
• To prevent this construction, the Indian army entered Doklam and a standoff took place.

 

Bhutan Prime Minister's comments

• In an interview with Belgian Daily La Libre, the Bhutanese PM said that he was open to a three-way solution to the Doklam-tri-junction dispute.
• He emphasised on China being the third party in the resolution of the dispute.

 

 The King's visit

The King's visit is important to further deepen bilateral relations. The King met with the Prime Minister and the President.

The visit consisted of both the substance and subtext.

 

The substance of the visit

It can be further divided into three parts

1. Revision and addition to existing projects.
2. New projects
3. Mutual concerns   

 

Revision and addition to existing projects

• The joint address said that India has agreed to support Bhutan's development plans and is ready to extend the standby lines of credit.
• Hydropower is one of the most important key areas of India-Bhutan relations. India has agreed to consider Bhutan's request for expediting long-delayed projects (Sankosh and Punatsangchhu).
• India has also agreed to revise the tariff of the oldest project; Chhukha and buy power from Basochhu.

 

New Projects

• Both parties have agreed to work on an integrated checkpoint for trucks at Jaigaon.
• A checkpoint for third-country nationals.
• Cross-border railway link from India's Kokrajhar to Gelephu. Apart from these, future projects include India's assistance in the field of space research, STEM, and a new internet gateway for Bhutan.
• These projects are in line with Bhutan King's "Transform Initiative".

 

Mutual concerns

• In recent years Bhutan has been experiencing a brain drain as the country's youth are moving overseas.
• This migration was caused by the country's youth unemployment (21% in 2021). India is also wary of it. Before Bhutan's elite would come to India for education.
• It helped India in shaping the Bhutanese policy-making and public narrative. Therefore, this visit of the King of Bhutan was well-timed and fruitful for both countries. The projects announced will benefit India as well as Bhutan.

 

The subtext of the visit

• The recent comments by Bhutan’s PM Lotay Tshering indicating progress in China-Bhutan boundary talks, have caused concern in Delhi. But this was not the whole point of the visit as per MEA officials.
• Traditionally, a significant part of India-Bhutan relationship has been the regularity of high-level visits.
• Given the proximity to the Siliguri corridor, it is important for India strategically.

As per 2007 Treaty of Friendship, India and Bhutan consult at a high level in order to be able to maximise their mutual interests.

Conclusion

While Bhutan is clear that all talks would be trilateral, India's concerns extend to any change in the area surrounding it. There needs to be full clarity on the issue. The King's visit and subsequently joint address only reaffirm the special relations between India and Bhutan.

India’s time-tested ties with Bhutan have been predicated on not seeing each other in terms of the difference in their size but in counting each country’s prosperity as a win-win for both.

India and Bhutan have always respected each other's sensitivities and interests before taking any decision that has the potential to jeopardise this long-cherished relationship.

 

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Q1) When were the diplomatic relations between India & Bhutan established?

Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968 with the establishment of a special office of India in Thimphu. The basic framework of India- Bhutan bilateral relations was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was revised in February 2007.

 

Q2) When did  Indo-Bhutan hydropower cooperation begin?

Indo-Bhutan hydropower cooperation began in 1961 with the signing of the Jaldhaka agreement. The Jaldhaka project is situated on the Indian side of Indo-Bhutan border in West Bengal. The major part of power produced at Jaldhaka hydropower plant was exported to southern Bhutan.

 

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Source: The Hindu