India, Bhutan Review Ties as Jaishankar Wraps Up Two-Day Visit

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar concluded a two-day official visit to Bhutan, during which the two countries reviewed the full range of their bilateral relationship and welcomed the momentum in their development partnership.

Mr. Jaishankar, who arrived on Wednesday, was granted an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He also called on Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and held delegation-level talks with his Bhutanese counterpart, D. N. Dhungyel.

In a social media post after meeting the King, Mr. Jaishankar said he deeply valued the guidance offered to further deepen the unique friendship between the two nations.

A joint press release issued at the end of the visit said the two sides reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation along with regional and international issues of mutual importance. They expressed appreciation for the strengthening of what was described as the special and multi-faceted India-Bhutan partnership, and commended the progress made in development cooperation.

India reaffirmed its support for Bhutan's developmental goals and priorities, while Bhutan expressed gratitude for India's backing of wide-ranging programmes under its 13th Five Year Plan, covering 2024 to 2029. Discussions between the two foreign ministers focused on advancing engagement in development partnership, energy, trade, connectivity, culture and people-to-people ties.

Several projects were inaugurated during the visit, including the 65-bed Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Mongar. Mr. Jaishankar also laid the foundation stone for the 500 KW Lunana Hydropower Project in Gasa, in northern Bhutan.

In addition, India handed over 43 Jersey cows to the National Cattle Breeding Centre in Bumthang and 54 electric vehicles to the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The two ministers welcomed the operationalisation of a Unified Payments Interface-based facility that will allow Bhutanese nationals to make digital payments in India through Bhutanese mobile applications.

Cooperation in the space sector was also discussed, with the two sides encouraging engagement on satellite data applications for monitoring glaciers, forest resources, floods and agriculture.

Mr. Jaishankar reiterated India's support for the Bhutanese King's vision for the Gelephu Mindfulness City, and the two sides agreed to continue working on collaboration related to the project.

The ministers expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership of March 2024. They welcomed the signing of an agreement on a concessional Line of Credit worth ₹4,000 crore for energy projects in Bhutan, and commended the active participation of Indian companies in hydropower projects, which they said was adding dynamism to existing energy cooperation.

India reaffirmed its commitment to set up an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar in Assam to ease the movement of investors and visitors to Gelephu, as announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Bhutan in November 2025. The two sides also welcomed the recent operationalisation of a new Land Customs Station in Samrang, Assam, describing it as a reflection of joint efforts to expand cross-border connectivity and infrastructure.

Progress on cross-border rail links between Gelephu and Kokrajhar, and between Samtse and Banarhat, was reviewed.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and global developments and underlined the significance of close bilateral ties amid a complex international environment. India thanked Bhutan for supporting its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term, and appreciated Bhutan's ratification of the Framework Agreement of the International Big Cat Alliance.

The visit was in keeping with the longstanding tradition of close engagement and cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Jaishankar extended an invitation to Mr. Dhungyel to visit India at his earliest convenience.