New Delhi: With the Bhutan King on an official visit, India on Tuesday, April 4, reaffirmed that New Delhi stands by its earlier statements on trijunction boundary points that mentioned an earlier understanding with China to finalise the point of intersection of the borders with consultation among the three countries.

The Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk held formal talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, during which the entire gamut of subjects from trade to security was on the table.

Briefing the media after the talks, Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said that “India and  Bhutan share an exemplary relationship, which is characterized by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding”.

In answer to a volley of questions about the Bhutan prime minister’s remarks in an interview, Kwatra largely repeated the same answer. “As related to recent statements and commentary to them is concerned, I would say that India and Bhutan remain in close touch relating to our shared interests, including security interests. I would only reiterate earlier statements on this issue which very explicitly, clearly bring out our position on trijunction boundary points,” he said.

The ‘earlier statements’ referred to by Kwatra are the public notes that the Ministry of External Affairs issued in June 2017, as well as the speeches made in parliament by then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

The MEA statement, dated June 30, 2017, stated that India and China had “in 2012 reached an agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries”.

Then, Sushma Swaraj also brought up the 2012 understanding reached between the two special representatives in Lok Sabha on August 3, 2017. “Point 13 of the common understanding states that “the Tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries,” she told Indian lawmakers.

Indian officials had assessed that the Chinese construction of a road, which triggered the Doklam crisis, was due to Beijing’s attempt to push the trijunction further south towards the Siliguri corridor.

Further, point 12 of the 2012 ‘understanding’ stated that the 1890 convention was the “basis of alignment” of the India-China border in the Sikkim sector. However, China interpreted this to mean that the trijunction point had been settled, while India claimed that the phrase ‘basis of’ meant that the final settlement had not been reached.

'Equal parties'

In his March 25 interview with the Belgian newspaper La Libre, Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering said that India, China and Bhutan were three “equal” parties to the negotiations for the trijunction.

During that same interview, Tshering had also significantly said that the talks with China over demarcating the other sections of its boundary were at an advanced stage and could be finished soon. 

Just two years ago, Bhutan and China signed a ‘three-step roadmap’ for expediting talks to demarcate their land boundary. Now, Bhutan's prime minister stated that they were close to demarcation. “After one or two more meetings, we will probably be able to draw a line,” he said.

Asked during the briefing if the demarcation of Bhutan’s boundary with China came up, Kwatra demurred, stating that the question should be posed to the two concerned countries.

The Indian foreign secretary claimed that there were several deliverables from the King’s visit.

Kwatra said that India would “step up” its support to Bhutan’s forthcoming 13th Five-year plan and also “extend an additional standby credit facility”.

“We would work to shape long-term sustainable arrangements for the export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan. Also work to develop long-term bilateral arrangements for a short supply of critical commodities to Bhutan, which would include petroleum, fertilizers, and coal,” he stated.

On the connectivity front, India was considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the India-Bhutan border, and also expedite the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link project.

With hydropower being Bhutan’s largest revenue earner through exports, Kwatra announced that India had agreed to “an upward revision of tariff of the Chhukha hydro-electric project”. “This is the oldest hydro-electric project with Bhutan and is of great significance,” he said.

Kwatra remarked that the finalisation of modalities for upcoming hydroelectric ventures, such as the Sankosh hydroelectric project, would also be accelerated by New Delhi.

Further, India will “consider positively” Bhutan’s request to sell power from its Basochhu hydro-electric project. “This would be perhaps done, through the energy exchange mechanism of the market. The details are yet to be worked out, but the discussion is that it could be done through the market exchange mechanism,” he said.

Bhutan has also been keen to diversify its market for energy by exporting power to Bangladesh. Kwatra said that India will consider it in a positive light.

“Again, based on the CBT (Cross Border Trade) guidelines of the Government of India, we would extend favourable consideration to Bhutan's request regarding power trade and access to financing for new and upcoming hydropower projects. Again, the specifics of this would vary from project to project and would naturally be in sync with our CBT guidelines,” he added.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.