India, Bhutan assure each other on mutual security

NEW DELHI: With an immediate objective to flush out Northeastern insurgents from the Bhutanese territory, India and Bhutan have agreed to closely cooperate on issues of national interests and not allow each other’s territory to be used for “interests inimical to each other”.

“The two sides expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries related to their mutual security. They agreed to continue with their close coordination and cooperation with each other on issues relating to their national interests, and not allow each other’s territory to be used for interests inimical to the other,” said a joint statement issued at the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Thimphu, his first foreign trip after assuming office.

ET had first reported on Monday that Bhutan’s top leaders had assured Modi during the meetings on Sunday that the country would soon launch an operation to flush out insurgents from the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and other Northeastern insurgents from its territory. In 2003, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, the Bhutan government had launched an operation to flush out ULFA, Bodo and KLO insurgents from Southern Bhutan.

Modi assured Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay of India’s continued commitment to capacity building, especially in the education and Information Technology sectors, in Bhutan. Modi announced the doubling of the Nehru-Wangchuck scholarship to Rs 2 crore per year. India will also provide grant assistance for the establishment of the digital section/E-library in the National Library of Bhutan and in all 20 districts of Bhutan.

India also conveyed its decision to exempt Bhutan from any ban or quantitative restrictions on exports of items like milk powder, wheat, edible oil, pulses and non-basmati rice, according to the statement. On Monday, Modi unveiled the foundation stone of the 600 mw Kholongchu Hydropower Project, which is a joint venture project between the Indian and Bhutanese public sector units SJVNL and Druk Green Power Corporation. The construction of the project, which is located in Trashiyangtse in eastern Bhutan, will commence later this year.

Addressing a joint session of the Bhutanese parliament on Monday, Modi said that ties between India and Bhutan were very strong and assured that change of government would not alter the dynamics of bilateral ties. Describing the Himalayas as a shared legacy, Modi stressed on the need to develop the ecology of region and said India was planning to open a university for Himalayan studies. The prime minister said that Indian satellite technology could be roped in to help Bhutan.