According to the MEA spokesperson, these changes “reflect the contemporary nature of our relationship” and aims at strengthening the relationship in a “manner that is responsive to and serves each other’s national interests through close cooperation”.

Besides this, he said, the revision will involve broadening the scope of economic relations, particularly enabling “further intensification” of relations in hydel power cooperation, trade and commerce.

It’s learnt that similar changes are also in the pipeline in case of the 1950 India-Nepal treaty. Sources said with both Bhutan and Nepal moving steadily towards democracy, changes have to be brought keeping in view the new Constitutional structures each seeks to set in place.

But it may be noted that in case of Nepal, one of key demands of the Maoists has been the abrogation of the 1950 treaty.

While this is unlikely to happen, India will have to consider changes to the treaty so that it is less offensive to Nepal. And given that outgoing Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuk had taken a bold initiative laying out a roadmap to democracy, a response was needed there too.

The revised treaty with Bhutan is to be signed when future King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk visits India in the coming few weeks. South Block officials indicated that these changes will also throw up challenges requiring New Delhi to fashion its influence in more sophisticated manner, largely economic.

New Delhi’s bold departure from the past, sources say, underlines the Government’s commitment to modernise India’s friendly relations with the smaller neighbours. It will also be in tune with the unfolding internal change in the Himalayan Kingdoms and the altering geopolitics of the Sino-Indian border, they add.

... contd.