India Bhutan Relations:
The treaty of
friendship and cooperation signed in 1949 is the basic framework of
India-Bhutan Relations.
This treaty
provides for perpetual peace and friendship, free trade & commerce and
equal justice to each other’s citizens.
This treaty was
updated and signed in 2007.
India has been
extending financial assistance to Bhutan’s Five year plans.
Bhutan is a
landlocked Himalayan country lying on the border with china.
Hydropower
development is Bhutan has been the cornerstone of India-Bhutan bilateral
relation.
India has been
providing financial assistance and technical support to Bhutan for construction
of hydroelectric projects.
Bhutan get its
electricity for its own use and exports the surplus power to India.
Hydropower
cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation, providing
clean electricity to India, generating export revenues for Bhutan.
The 1949 Friendship
treaty has guided the contemporary Indi-Bhutan relationship, ensuring India’s
non interference in Bhutan’s internal affairs while Article 2 of the treaty
critically gave India a role in guiding Bhutan’s foreign policy.
India helped
Bhu8tan secure a UN membership in 1971. Bhutan’s UN membership thus
fundamentally impaired the sacredness of Article 2 of the 1949 treaty.
Under the new 2007
India-Bhutan friendship treaty, India-Bhutan sides have agreed to ‘cooperate
closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither
Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the
national security and interest of the other.
The Eastern command
and the eastern air command both have integrated protection of Bhutan into
their role.
The Indian Military
training team plays a critical role in training Bhutanese security personnel.
China is claiming
495 square kilometres in eastern Bhutan and 286 square kilometres in the
western sector, which includes the Doklam plateau.
If Chinese troops
claim the disputed area including Doklam, they will be in control of high
mountain ridges. This will put Paro, Haa and Thimpu valleys within China’s
artillery range.
China if commands
Doklam can dictate terms to Bhutan. Forward movement of Chinese troops will
make them capable of cutting off the 165 km road from Thimpu to phuentsholing,
the city which is the gateway for import of food and other materials from
India.
The chumbi valley
is a narrow wedge of territory between Bhutan and the Indian state of Sikkim.
The boundaries of
China, India and Bhutan meet at the tri-junction near the Southern side of the
valley.
Doklam China
commenced constructing a road on the Doklam plateau. India objected to it for 2
reasons.
The Road
construction alters the strategic and operational scenario and gives Chinese an
upperhand.
This transgresses
disputed territory of Bhutan with whom India has a mutual assistance treaty.
The recent stand
off between India & China at Doklam tested India’s commitment in the
protection of Bhutan. If India has not reacted, the Bhutan will doubt India and
it can hamper bilateral relations.
The year 2018 marks
the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two countries.