AGAINST the backdrop of renewed focus on the Doklam issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Tuesday sketched a five-point broad roadmap to expand the “time-tested” relations besides delving into respective national security interests. The talks between Modi and the visiting king took place days after Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said that China has an equal say in resolving the border dispute relating to the strategically-located Doklam tri-junction. When asked at a media briefing whether the Doklam issue figured in the talks, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India-Bhutan ties are based on mutual respect, trust, close understanding and sensitivity to each other’s concerns, adding Modi and the king covered the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation including issues of “respective national interests”. Kwatra said the proposed rail link project between Kokrajhar (Assam) and Gelephu (Bhutan) will be expedited and that it would be the first ever rail link between the two countries.

“Besides this exemplary and unique relationship that India and Bhutan have, we also have a time-tested framework of security cooperation, and as part of that, both countries maintain a long standing tradition of very close consultations on matters relating to their mutual interests, and of course, security also,” he said replying to the Doka La issue. In a tweet, Modi described his meeting with the Bhutanese King as “warm and productive”. The Prime Minister also hosted a lunch for the visiting dignitary.