India, Bhutan sign updated Friendship Treaty

New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) India and Bhutan today signed an updated version of the 57-year old Friendship Treaty, re-defining and giving a new direction to bilateral ties in conformity with contemporary geo-political situation.

The two countries agreed to closely cooperate and not allow their respective territories to be used against each other by anti-social elements. The treaty was signed today between Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee after talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the treaty was signed between soverign nations and added that it takes bilateral relationship to a new high.

''The two countries agreed to cooperate closely and resolve all issues,'' the spokesperson added.

The two leaders also held discussions on various issues including security, trade, hydro-power and cooperation in several other areas.

The 23-year old Bhutan monarch, who is on his maiden visit to India after taking over as the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, arrived here yesterday on a five-day official visit.

Earlier in the day, Mr Mukherjee and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon called on him.

He also called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Yesterday, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan called on the King and discussed security-related issues.

Sources said the Home Minister discussed the issue of Northeast insurgents. The meeting lasted 30 minutes. Before the Home Minister, the National Security Advisor also met the Bhutan monarch for 30 minutes.

The meetings are considered significant in the wake of ULFA having stepped up attacks in Asom and reports of the insurgent group trying to regain foothold along the Indo-Bhutanese border.

The Royal Bhutanese Army had in 2003 launched a crackdown on ULFA camps in Bhutan and flushed out the insurgents. However, some reports suggest that ULFA is again trying to gain sanctuary in areas along the Indo-Bhutan border.

Tomorrow, Defence Minister A K Antony, Army Chief J J Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will call on him while on February 10, he will have a meeting with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani at the latter's residence.

On February 11, Finance Minister P Chidambaram will call on him.

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