Guwahati: Although India's relation with Nepal has been strained recently, the former has been able to strengthen its relationship with Bhutan. Recently Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar had sent a letter to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for the state's role during the lockdown.
The Himalayan kingdom's king, Jigme Khesar has highly appreciated the Assam government for allowing movement of vehicles carrying essential commodities to the neighbouring country amid the lockdown and ensuring the well being of the people.
The letter of the Bhutan King to Assam Chief Minister is in the backdrop of the positive gesture of the Assam government to allow passage of vehicles to and from the kingdom during the lockdown.
Khesar hailed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his government and thanked him for helping the neighbouring country in tackling the pressing situation precipitated in view of the COVID-induced lockdown.
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Bhutan is historically related to India, particularly with states like Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and the Himalayan kingdom is dependent on road connectivity through Assam for ferrying essential commodities.
A large number of people from different district of Assam are engaged in trade activities in the neighbouring country. Businessmen from Assam, West Bengal etc has a large presence in trade and commerce activities in Bhutan's capital Thimphu, Paro, Samdrupjonkhar etc.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Senior Independent journalist Nava Thakuria said, "India is Bhutan’s leading development partner. Since the launch of the First Five Year Plan of Bhutan in 1961, India has been extending financial support to Bhutan’s FYPs. India has allotted Rs 4500 crore to Bhutan’s 12th FYP. Both countries have mutual interests in diverse areas of cooperation – security, border management, trade, hydro-power, and many more."
"The basis for bilateral relations between India and Bhutan was formed by the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1949. India-Bhutan relation is a true example of integrity," he said.
President of the Farmer's Sangha in Assam Satya Ranjan Das said that some areas of Bhutan are dependent on the agriculture and farmers of Assam, particularly the farmers living in areas along the border with Bhutan.
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On August 8 of 1949, Bhutan and India had signed a friendly treaty which felicitates visa-free movement between the two countries. However, the Indo-Bhutan relationship does not end there. Both the countries strengthened diplomatic relation and mutual cooperation since 1964.
During the 1990s the relationship between India and Bhutan strained as insurgents outfits from Assam including United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Bodo Liberation Tigers and Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) had taken shelter in Bhutan and carried out used the soil of Himalayan country to carry out subversive activities in Assam.
The then Bhutan king took proactive steps during that time to strengthen the relationship and launched Operation All Clear against the Indian insurgents. The military operation was supported by the Indian government.
In 2005, the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had announced financial assistance of Rs 5000 crore to Bhutan for harnessing the country's hydropower potentials.
This investment by India also had helped impacted on issues concerning the country's security in later years. The improvement of ties between India and Bhutan definitely assumes significance at a time when India's relation with Nepal has strained.
