Delhi (The Stellar News): On Friday, Army Chief General Manoj Pande began a two-day visit to Bhutan a day after a new satellite images emerged, showing the construction of a Chinese village east of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutan side, an area considered vital to India’s strategic interests.
Pande is scheduled to meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan besides holding talks with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army. “The visit will further enhance the unique and time-tested bilateral relations, characterized by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding”, the army said in a brief statement.
Pande will begin his visit by paying his respects at the National Memorial Chorten in Thimpu, built in memory of the third King of Bhuta, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. The army said, “The Chief of Army Staff is scheduled to attend with His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Fourth King”.
After the Doklam pictured came out on July 19, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India is keeping a close eye on all developments related to national security and taking necessary measures to protect its interests. It is understood that the general situation in the Doklam plateau as well as China’s activities in the area will figure in Pande’s talk with his counterpart in Bhutan.
India and PLA forces are locked in a 73-daystand-off at the Doklam tri-junction after China tried to extend a road in the area that Bhutan claims as its own. In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an arrangement on a “three-step road map” to speed up negotiations to resolve their festering border dispute.
Bhutan shares a border of more than 400km-long with China and two countries have held more than 24 rounds of border talks in a bid to resolve the dispute. The Doklam tri-junction is considered important from the point of view of India’s security interests.
The India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateauin 2017 was even triggered by the fear of war between the two nuclear-armed nations. Bhutan claims that the area belongs to it and India supports Bhutan’s claim. India has strongly opposed the construction of the road at the Doklam tri-junction as it will affect its security interests.
The India-China stand-off was resolved after several rounds of talks.
Report: Deepanjot Kaur (Under Training)
