The 14th India–Bhutan Border Management and Security Meeting was held in Thimphu, Bhutan. The last meeting was held in 2019. The meeting reinforces the bilateral commitment to maintain a peaceful, secure, and prosperous border region.
Key Highlights
Indian Delegation:
- Included representatives from- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Land Ports Authority of India, Department of Telecommunications, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Survey of India, Customs, and officials from Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Agenda:
- Strengthening border management and security cooperation.
- Discussion on mobile signal spillover across the border.
- Roadmap for Integrated Check Posts (ICPs).
- Maintenance of boundary pillars.
- Cross-border movement facilitation and monitoring.
- Capacity building of Bhutan Police.
- Both sides expressed satisfaction over cordial and constructive discussions and reaffirmed their resolve to ensure a safe and secure border region.
India–Bhutan Border Overview
- Length: 699 km.
- Indian States sharing border with Bhutan:
- Sikkim
- West Bengal
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Border Force: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) — responsible for guarding the Indo–Bhutan and Indo–Nepal borders.
- Headquarters of SSB: New Delhi.
- Established: 1963 (originally Special Service Bureau).
India–Bhutan Bilateral Relations: Overview
Political & Diplomatic Relations
- Treaty of Friendship (1949) – forms the foundation of India–Bhutan relations.
- Revised Treaty (2007):
- Gave Bhutan greater autonomy in foreign policy.
- Committed both nations to “not allow the use of their territory for activities harmful to the national security and interests of the other.”
- Formal diplomatic relations: established in 1968.
- Bhutan’s first PM visit to India (post-2024 election) reaffirmed partnership in development and security.
Economic & Developmental Cooperation
Trade:
- India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner.
- The India–Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit (1972; revised 2016) establishes a free trade regime between the two nations.
- Allows duty-free transit of Bhutanese exports to third countries via India.
Development Assistance:
- India supports Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan (2024–29).
- Assistance for Bhutan’s Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).
- Digital Drukyul Project – India-assisted initiative for optical fibre connectivity in Bhutan.
Hydropower Cooperation
Governing Framework:
- 2006 bilateral agreement and 2009 protocol.
Benefits:
- For Bhutan: Access to Indian funding and markets for hydropower exports.
- For India: Access to clean renewable energy.
Key Projects:
- Basochhu, Chukha, Kurichhu, Tala, and Mangdechhu hydropower plants.
- Bhutan’s hydropower is traded on Indian Energy Exchange (IEX).
Defence & Security Cooperation
India as Bhutan’s net security provider:
- India provides training and military support through Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) — established in 1961–62.
- Doklam Standoff (2017): India intervened under the Treaty of Perpetual Friendship (2007) to block Chinese road construction near Bhutanese territory.
- India helps Bhutan secure its borders and counter insurgent threats from India’s Northeast.
Connectivity & Infrastructure
- Project DANTAK:
- Executed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) since 1961.
- Constructed and maintains most of Bhutan’s strategic roads, bridges, and airports.
- Integrated Check Posts (ICPs): being developed to facilitate legitimate trade and people’s movement while maintaining border security.
Cultural and People-to-People Ties
- Buddhist Linkages:
- Both nations share a deep Buddhist heritage.
- India supports Bhutanese pilgrimages to Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Rajgir, and Nalanda.
- Asiatic Society (Kolkata) loaned a statue of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (16th-century Bhutanese spiritual leader) to Bhutan — symbolizing cultural unity.
- Education: India offers scholarships to Bhutanese students through the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations).
Environmental Cooperation
- Transboundary Manas Conservation Area (TraMCA): Joint Indo–Bhutan initiative connecting Manas National Park (India) and Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan) for wildlife protection and biodiversity conservation.
Challenges in India–Bhutan Relations
Growing China–Bhutan Proximity:
- Bhutan’s first-ever Foreign Minister visit to China in 2023.
- China accounts for ~25% of Bhutan’s trade.
- Bhutan exploring diplomatic relations and border settlement with China.
China’s Territorial Ambitions:
- Under its “Five-Finger Policy” — China views Tibet as the palm and Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh as fingers.
- Doklam Plateau dispute remains sensitive due to proximity to India’s Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck).
Security Threats from Militants:
- Groups like ULFA and NDFB have previously used Bhutanese territory as hideouts.
Stalled Regional Projects:
- Bhutan has opted out of BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) citing environmental concerns.
Strategic Significance for India
- Bhutan acts as a buffer state between India and China.
- Critical for India’s Northeast connectivity and security.
- Stability in Bhutan ensures protection of India’s Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch linking mainland India to its Northeastern states.
Key Facts
| Topic | Key Fact |
| Capital of Bhutan | Thimphu |
| Currency of Bhutan | Ngultrum (par value with Indian Rupee) |
| Prime Minister of Bhutan (2025) | Tshering Tobgay |
| King of Bhutan | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck |
| India’s Ambassador to Bhutan (2025) | Sudhakar Dalela |
| Bhutan’s Ambassador to India (2025) | Major General Vetsop Namgyel |
| Indo–Bhutan Border Force | Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) |
| Border Road Project | Project DANTAK (BRO) |
| India–Bhutan Hydropower Agreement Year | 2006 (Protocol in 2009) |
| Transboundary Conservation Project | TraMCA – Transboundary Manas Conservation Area |
| Revised Treaty of Friendship Year | 2007 |
| Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan Period | 2024–2029 |