By TON Research Section

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan maintains healthy relations with its neighbour India. The diplomatic relations between both the countries were established in 1968 but before that the treaty of friendship and cooperation was signed in 1949 between both the countries, which was later revised in February 2007, which served as a basic framework for relations. Since then Bhutan has been an ally of India but on the other hand India has not maintained cordial relations with its other neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Nepal and China. In recent times, India has been using hegemonic methods in diplomacy to handle international relations that is slowly driving-away its neighbours.

The relations between India and Bhutan have been sustained by the regular visits, meetings and other high level dialogues however, India is playing a key role in the socio-economic transformation of Bhutan and on the other hand Bhutan is also serving interests of India. India’s policy for Bhutan is focused on cooperation based on its needs and requirements and India does not want any other country especially China to build its sphere of influence in Bhutan. India has strong hold on Bhutan politically, economically and socially therefore, Bhutan also cannot completely ignore India. India is Bhutan’s largest development partner and has funded Bhutan’s entire first (1961-1966) and second (1967-1972) five year plans. Between 2000 and 2017, Bhutan received total of $ 4.7 billion in grants from India. There are various ongoing development projects in areas such as trade transit, economic, hydro-power, development cooperation, water resources, security, border management and other areas between both the countries.

Recently, on 28^th June, 2021, the Third India-Bhutan Development Cooperation talks were held in a virtual mode. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs statement, “Government of India has committed Rs. 4500 crore for the implementation of development projects and Rs. 400 crores for the transitional Trade Support Facility during Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan (2018 - 2023).” It added that, “77 large and intermediate projects and 524 Small Development Projects (SDPs)/ High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) are at various stages of implementation under the 12th Five Year Plan.”

Bhutan is a pivotal to two of the India's major foreign policies, "Neighbourhood First Policy" and the "Act-East Policy". However, it could not be denied that India consider Bhutan as a necessary piece for ensuring its economic and strategic hegemony in the region. Despite the development projects and economic progress in Bhutan under India’s umbrella the government of Bhutan is facing major challenges of rising foreign debt to India and unemployment in country. Now, even though the cordial relations between both countries, Bhutan is in heft to pursue its own strategic interest, pushing its own economic agenda and is now seeking to mend its relations with China. Now the Bhutan’s government and majority population seeks shift towards Chinese investment in the country for better future but India remains as a hurdle in shifting Bhutan’s foreign policy.

Earlier, when the Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigme Thinley met with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in 2012 on the side-lines of Rio+20 Summit, India retaliated by withdrawing all fuel subsidies, which resulted in huge crisis in landlocked tiny Himalayan kingdom. Undoubtedly, this subsidy cut was just to give a picture of domination and diplomatic overkill. However, after this low point of relations between both the countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan in 2014 and then again visited in 2019 to keep the relations even. On one hand India is investing in Bhutan but on the other hand Bhutan is also of the largest beneficiaries to India. Bhutan is also exporting surplus electricity to India. So far, Indian government has constructed three Hydropower projects (HEPs) and most of the power is directed to India because it is control over them.

Moreover, the geographical location of Bhutan is also a key factor, as India's policy is concerned. The geography of the border and India’s policy towards Bhutan clearly shows that India wants to takeover Himalaya’s tiny kingdom to defend its border from any northern threat. However, India’s strategic thinking has certainly a continental outlook and is struggling hard to build its alliance with the smaller South Asian states, as parts of its aspirations are to be a dominating power in the region but due to these policies, all the neighbours have turned hostile against India. India needs to review its foreign policy from a wider perspective. Today, Bhutan’s foreign policy is clearly revealing India’s hegemonic role. Somewhat it also seems that the sovereignty of Bhutan is foregone idea because India has strong grip over Bhutan’s economy and military therefore, it will be difficult for Bhutan to gain diplomatic independence. Albeit, despite these tactics of India there are assumptions of changing stance and it seems that India is losing ground.

 ISLAMABAD, 25 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will begin his four-nation tour to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran from Wednesday to exchange views with the leadership on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister will commence his visit from Tajikistan followed by two other Central Asian States and then Iran.

The Foreign Office said on Tuesday “during the visit, the Foreign Minister will have high-level interactions to exchange views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and on enhancing bilateral relations.”

During the consultations from August 24 to 26, Qureshi will share Pakistan’s perspective on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office said “Pakistan believed that the neighboring countries have a vital stake in the peace, security and stability of Afghanistan and the region.”

It said “it is important to coordinate closely with the neighbours to address common challenges and advance shared goals of peace, security, stability and regional connectivity.”

In the bilateral context, the foreign minister’s visit to these countries will build on the recent high-level exchanges to further intensify close cooperative relations.

WASHINGTON, 25 August 2021, (TON): A US official said “the director of the CIA met with the Taliban’s top political leader in Kabul amid the ongoing effort to evacuate people fleeing their takeover of Afghanistan.”

William Burns’ visit Monday came ahead of a planned meeting among leaders from the Group of Seven nations about the crisis in Afghanistan and a warning from UN human rights chief of credible reports of “summary executions” and restrictions on women in areas under Taliban control. That’s fueling fears of what their rule might hold a week before US forces are set to withdraw.

Michelle Bachelet urged the Human Rights Council to take “bold and vigorous action” to monitor the rights situation in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s stunning takeover, as she sought to ensure that international attention on the country doesn’t wane.

Taliban leaders have promised to restore security and tried to project an image of moderation, but many Afghans are skeptical and are racing to the leave the country, leading to chaos at Kabul’s international airport.

GAZA, 25 August 2021, (TON):  An unarmed Palestinian teenager died on Tuesday after being shot in the head by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank.

Imad Hashash, 15, was killed during an Israeli raid on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.

Israel claimed its soldiers were attacked by people throwing large stone blocks from rooftops.

Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip overnight, targeting a Hamas weapons manufacturing site, a tunnel and an underground rocket launch site.

The army said it struck an additional tunnel after Hamas fired machineguns across the border.

Israel said “it was responding to incidents, when Palestinian activists launched incendiary balloons into Israel, starting at least three fires.”

Tensions have been rising between Israel and Hamas, with the latter frustrated over the slow pace of ceasefire talks that it hopes will ease an Israeli blockade over the territory.

KABUL, 25 August 2021, (TON): A Taliban spokesperson says the US must complete its evacuation of people from Afghanistan by the August 31 date the Biden administration set for the withdrawal of all American troops.

Addressing a press conference, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said “his group would accept no extensions to the deadline. He said life was returning to normal in the country but chaos at the airport remained a problem.”

Many Afghans are desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.

The spokesperson said “the United States should stop evacuating skilled Afghans, and warned Western forces against extending the Aug 31 deadline for airlifts out of the country.

The group said “Americans were taking Afghan experts such as engineers out of the country.

Mujahid said “they have planes, they have the airport, they should get their citizens and contractors out of here.”

The Taliban leader also said female Afghan government workers should stay home until security conditions in the country improved.

KABUL, 25 August 2021, (TON): The Taliban have appointed a new finance minister, an intelligence chief, and an acting interior minister in Afghanistan.

It said Gul Agha would be the finance minister and Sadr Ibrahim would be the acting interior minister. Najibullah would be intelligence chief, while Mullah Shirin would be Kabul governor and Hamdullah Nomani the mayor of the capital.

ALGIERS, 25 August 2021, (TON): Algeria is cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra said at a news conference, accusing its neighbor of “hostile actions.”

Morocco and Algeria have had strained relations for decades, mainly over the issue of Western Sahara, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1994.

He said “the Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria.”

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment. King Mohammed VI has called for improved ties with Algeria.

Lamamra said “the cutting of diplomatic relations is effective from Tuesday but consulates in each country will remain open.”

Algeria last week said “lethal wildfires were the work of groups it has labelled terrorist, one of which it said was backed by Morocco.”

KATHMANDU, 25 August 2021, (TON): A total of 112 Nepalis have returned home from Afghanistan. Of them, 103 returned through Jordan Aviation Flights while nine through Qatar Airlines.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MoFA) “770 Nepalis returned home from Afghanistan till today.

The MoFA has further shared that diplomatic efforts were underway to bring Nepali nationals back home who remain stranded in Doha, Dubai, London and New Delhi after returning from Afghanistan.

COLOMBO, 25 August 2021, (TON): The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka Yuri B. Materiy paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris,at the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris underscored the importance of Sri Lanka’s longstanding friendship and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia, and expressed appreciation for Russia’s support to Sri Lanka on issues of principle and relevance in multilateral fora.

The Foreign Minister’s sentiments were reciprocated by Ambassador Materiy who congratulated Foreign Minister Peiris on his appointment, and reiterated Russia’s interest in further expanding bilateral relations in multiple sectors including trade, investment and tourism, energy, science and technology, defence and counter-terrorism.

The meeting entailed reference to upcoming political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries; convening of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation; and commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Sri Lanka–Russia diplomatic relations in 2022.

 WASHINGTON, 25 August 2021, (TON): Local officials said Sunday in what they warned was a preliminary toll “devastating floods after record rainfall in the southern US state of Tennessee have left at least 22 people dead and at least 20 more missing.”

Tennessee was hit by what meteorologists called historic storms and flooding, dumping as much as 17 inches of rain.

Rural roads, state highways, bridges and hundreds of homes were washed out and widespread power outages affected thousands of people.

The National Weather Service said “in Humpreys County, the downpour broke a 24-hour rainfall record for Tennessee.”