Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: Strategically significant tri-junction between China, Bhutan and India, Donglang, and called by Indians as Doklam, has become again source of serious conflict between China and India. And Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, newly appointed Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval secretly travelled to Bhutan earlier this month on a rare visit during which they held extensive talks with the top brass of the Bhutanese leadership on strategic issues, including the situation in Donglang.
Indian army chief said last month the time has come for the country to shift its focus from the western to the northern frontier. It has been revealed by the Indian wire service quoting authoritative government sources on Sunday. In June 2017, a military standoff occurred between China and India as China attempted to extend a road on the Donglang plateau southwards near the Doka La pass and Indian troops moved in to prevent the Chinese.
India claimed to have acted on behalf of Bhutan, with which it has a 'special relationship' as India controls Defence and Foreign relations of Bhutan. It (Bhutan) has formally objected to China's road construction in the disputed area. It is believed that Bhutan objection came on behest of New Delhi.
The Indian sources said that the India and Bhutan reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation issues with a focus on China’s increasing military posturing and infrastructure development in the key plateau during the visit of the Indian stalwarts.
The visit took place between February 6 and 7 and “positive” outcomes emerged from the meetings between the key Indian officials and the Bhutanese government, they said.
The visit by Gen Rawat, Doval and Gokhale was the first such high-level trip from India to Bhutan after the standoff, and it was kept under wraps by the Bhutanese and Indian sides. The visit came three days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of an investors’ summit in Guwahati.
The sources said Bhutanese side apprised the Indians about the status of boundary talks between China and Bhutan and emphasised that Thimphu wants peace in the tri-junction. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in the area from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the tri-junction by the Chinese army.
Bhutan and China have a dispute over Donglang. The face-off ended on August 28. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. India argues that since it is a tri-junction involving the three countries, it also has a say in the issue, especially in the backdrop of a 2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries that have till now held 20 rounds of talks.
Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. The sources said several other key officials of the Indian army and the ministry of external affairs were also a part of the visit. Asked about the foreign secretary’s visit, a diplomatic source called it “routine”. Interestingly, new Indian Foreign Secretary was ambassador of India in Beijing before assuming the office last month.
This was Gen Rawat’s second visit to Bhutan in the last nine months. Gen Rawat has been calling for adequate focus by India on its nearly 4,000km-long border with China. Indian Army sources said China has been
keeping its troops in north Donglang and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the area.
The Indian Army has also been strengthening its troop level in certain key sectors along the Sino-India border besides enhancing border infrastructure. Previously, Rawat had visited Bhutan in April last year while then Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had visited the neighbouring country in October last. In November last, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, had visited India.
