Army Chief General Manoj Pandey began a two-day visit to Bhutan on Friday. The Army Chief's visit to Bhutan comes at a time when China is once again ramping up infrastructure in the Doklam region. It is reported that China has built a Chinese village in the east of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutan side. This is an area that is considered important for India's strategic interest. A few days ago new satellite images showed China building a village to the east of the Doklam plateau on the Bhutan side.
This region is considered important for India's strategic interests. After the pictures surfaced, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India is continuously monitoring all developments related to national security and is taking necessary steps to protect its interests. The Indian Army said that General Pandey is also scheduled to meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Bhutan's fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck besides holding talks with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army.
It is learned that the overall situation in the Doklam plateau as well as the issue of Chinese activities in the region will be raised by General Pandey in talks with his Bhutanese interlocutors. "The visit will further enhance the unique and timely bilateral ties, which include immense trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding," the army said in a statement.
The army said General Pandey will begin his visit by paying tribute at Chorten, the national monument in Thimphu, built in memory of the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The Army Chief will hold extensive discussions with his counterpart in the Royal Bhutan Army to exchange views on furthering the strong cultural and professional ties between the two armies, the statement said.
The Doklam plateau is considered an important area for India's strategic interest. The Indian and Chinese armies at the Doklam tri-point standoff for 73 days after China tried to extend a road into the area that Bhutan claims as its own.
In October last year, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on a "three-tier roadmap" to expedite negotiations to resolve their escalating border dispute. Bhutan shares a border of over 400 km with China and the two countries have held 24 rounds of border talks to resolve the dispute.
The India-China standoff in the year 2017 at the Doklam tri-point had raised fears of a war between the two nuclear-rich neighbors. Bhutan had said that the territory belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese claim. General Pandey will conclude the Yatra by paying tributes at Druk Wangyal Khang Jhang Chortens in Dochula, which were set up in honor of martyred heroes of the Royal Bhutan Army.
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