INDIA AND BHUTAN RELATIONS

INDIA AND BHUTAN RELATIONS:

INTRODUCTION:

India remains influential over Bhutan’s foreign policy, defence and commerce. India supports Bhutan with about 1/3^rd of its overall foreign aid. Bhutan had been an isolated country in the past but came into pact with British India and developed bilateral relations with it upon its independence. India was the first country to recognize Bhutan's independence in 1947. Bhutan has 90% of its total exports to India and 75% of its total imports from it. The Government of India has taken over from the British Government agreed to guide the Government of Bhutan in its external relations, while undertaking not to interfere in internal administration and paying the state a subsidy. Bhutan mainly receive its income by selling electricity to India through hydroelectric projects.

 MAJOR TREATIES BETWEEN INDIA AND BHUTAN:

1949 TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP:

The main intention of this treaty was to assure peace and non interference in each other’s internal affairs. But Bhutan has agreed to guide its foreign policy. Another important decision held was to have free trade and both of them would consult each other closely on foreign and defence affairs.

In this period, the occupation of Tibet brought the both nations together. Our the then Prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru declared that any aggression against Bhutan would be seen as an aggression against India. When the China and Bhutan fought over the issue of Tibet, India stood for Bhutan which led to the growth of hatred between India and China. Even when India supported Bhutan in every issue, it did not consider itself a protectorate country of India.

DURING THE PERIOD OF 1970’S TO 1980’S:

India and Bhutan did not have a border demarcation until 1973-74. Bhutan began slowly to achieve an independent attitude in foreign affairs by joining UN in 1971. It was even against India at some international meetings like NAM summit by voting with China and some other countries. But that did not give any problem to India. Bhutan has even helped India in solving the problem of ULFA which had its base in Bhutan and did carry out attacks in India.

2007 TREATY:

It is the renegotiated treaty of 1949 treaty and the both nations came closer even with this treaty. The new decisions taken are

·        It should have freedom to import arms without the permission of India.

·        India told it would import a minimum of 10,000 megawatts of electricity by 2020.

·        India would allow 16 entry and exit points of Bhutan trade with the other countries.

Man Mohan Singh visited Bhutan in this period and supported its move towards Democracy.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS:

The diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1968. The 2007 treaty says that

·        There should exist a perpetual peace and friendship.

·        Should have free trade and commerce.

·        Should have equal justice given.

·        Focus on economic development.

·        Improve hydro electric power.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION:

India is the most development partner of Bhutan.

·        Bhutan has started it five year plan system or planned development in 1961 and India provides funds for it.

·        India supports Bhutan in its hydro electric projects, Bhutan broadcasting station, Paro airport, major highways, electricity, transport and distribution system, exploration of mineral resources, cement projects etc.

·        There was the first ever rail link “golden jubilee rail link” established between the two countries.

TRADE:

India is not only the development partner of Bhutan but also its leading trade partner. There exists a free trade regime between the two countries.

EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL COOPERATION:

India provides technical expertise and services of specialists to Bhutan in various fields. Indian Government grants 85% of its total scholarships to the Bhutanese under graduate students. Ten Bhutanese students are allowed to get admitted into our Sainik Schools and all the expenditure would be borne by the Indian Government. Man Mohan Singh announced the India’s decision to institute a Nehru-Wangchuck scholarship to encourage students from Bhutan to study in the leading Indian universities and institutions. Bhutan’s Sherubtse College is affiliated to Delhi University. India even supported Bhutan in its Gross Domestic Happiness concept in 2010. Government of India also facilitated the holding of a workshop in Thimpu for senior Bureaucrats in Bhutan on democratic constitutional monarchy with eminent civil servants from India acting as resource people.
CHINA BHUTAN RELATIONS:
China and Bhutan had no relations past 20 years. Bhutan is the only country of the China's 14 neighbours with which it did not have any diplomatic relations and it has been looking to win Bhutan from India's orbit. The Bhutanese grew tired by the increasing hegemonic ambitions and repeated intrusions(Tibet intrusion). The Bhutanese became the last ones to be the victims of China. So they needed a peace treaty between the two countries. The first meeting of the two countries held in 2012 in Rio+20 Summit between Thinley and Jiabao. they made a formal announcement to have diplomatic relations and declared that Bhutan supports China on the issue of Taiwan and Tibet. China also accepted Bhutan's independence in the way of its development path. The foreign policy discussed was based on Five principles of peaceful co-existence. China even is willing to have a border demarcation soon between the two countries.

WHY DOES INDIA THINK THAT BHUTAN, ITS ONLY ALLY IN THE SOUTH ASIA, IS MOVING AWAY FROM IT?

• As a counter to India, after the treaty between Bhutan and China, it has started exporting Farming and Telecommunication equipment and has also offered to invest in projects related to health and education services to Bhutan. Even Chinese companies have been given a contract to construct the world's tallest Buddha statue in Thimphu.
• Politically most worrying aspect for India is the growing communism in Bhutan and the vote bank politics forcing the country to settle the border issue with China, as it impedes the development.
• Even the Indian officials claim that the Thinley's government is steering away Bhutan towards China, away from India.
• After the Rio+20 meeting, Bhutan imported 20 buses from china rather than from India.

INDIA TAKING BACK OF SUBSIDY SUPPLY TO BHUTAN:

Early this month, India withdrew all subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene that it had been providing to it, leading to the hike in prices in Bhutan. This has given to protests from Bhutan that India discontent with the Kingdom, influenced the coming elections. This has been named as "India meddling in Bhutan's internal affairs." But the Indians claim that the move to end the subsidy is just a commercial move and not a political one. As India itself is facing subsidy crisis, it cannot provide developmental aide to its neighbours.

A MAJOR REASON FOR BHUTAN TO GO AWAY FROM INDIA:

ULFA and Bodo militants are carrying out their attacks on Indian security forces from Bhutanese jungles. This is used as an excuse for India to invade Bhutan and take over it. Now to save itself and recognizing the rise of China, it is moving towards a more China policy. India's occupation of Sikkim has given this doubt to Bhutan. To fight for its independence, it has taken this step. Bhutan has two neighbours, massive and economic powers in the world and it is being pressed in between them. It cannot choose a single country and depend totally on them. So it has started having aide from both the countries by changing its foreign policy.

MY PERSPECTIVE:

India and Bhutan have a strong historical and cultural relationship which is very tough to be broken. Each country has every right to look into for better investors. In the same way, Bhutan got attracted towards Chinese investments. Even India and China had been trade partners but that does not mean India drifting towards China. In the same way, Bhutan is just trading with China. That does not mean it is moving away from India. Coming to the Chinese perspective, Bhutan which is widely seen as a close Indian ally, the moves to be closer to China have been seen as being backed by Indians. This is politics, every country thinks in its own satisfying manner supporting itself. One country should think about the two sides of the coin, which gives a good understanding and leads to a healthy relationship other than developing hatred between themselves.