India wants revision of 1949 treaty

Thimphu, October 28: Indian foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon stressed the need to review the 1949 treaty between Bhutan and India to make it relevant in the changed context.

Speaking to Bhutanese and international media persons here on Friday, Menon said, "We need to bring the relationship in line with the changing demands of the times."

He said India's priority to maintain relation with Bhutan is top and thus, he visited this Himalayan kingdom in his first foreign visit after being appointed to the position of foreign secretary. He had visited Bhutan about 12 years back.

"We have, in the past, to the extent that we are capable of, tried to help our friends in Bhutan, Bhutan has helped us also and as Bhutan enters into a transition in her own internal arrangement, we will continue to help in every way we can," Menon said.

During his three-day visit to Bhutan, Menon received an audience with His Majesty the King. They discussed various issues of mutual interest including the 1949 treaty and Indo-Bhutan relations after the political changes taking place in Bhutan after 2008.

Menon also met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and prime minister Khandu Wangchuk and held separate meetings.

Addressing the media persons on the occasion, Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said Menon's visit would strengthen the age-old relation between Bhutan and India and was in keeping with the tradition of frequent high-level exchange of visits between the two countries.

Menon completed his visit to Bhutan today. Bhutan News Service/Sangey Oendrey