is more important than GDP. Gross Nations Happiness Areas of Contentions The Motor Vehicles Agreement that was signed in involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) was blocked by Bhutan’s upper house citing environmental concerns. ( Growing and unsustainable trade imbalance is in favor of India. Bhutan’s trade deficit is set to worsen as India’s Good and Services Tax (GST) makes its exports to Bhutan cheaper and imports from Bhutan more expensive Bhutan wants to increase its export power tariff to India as it is lesser than the cost of production.
Bhutan has been taken as safe haven by insurgent elements like National Democratic Front for Bodoland (NDFB), United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militants and Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) that often pose threat to internal peace and security in the northeast region of India. Doklam Issue Doklam, or Donglang in China, is an area spread over less than a sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan and China. It is surrounded by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan’s Ha Valley and Sikkim. Despite several rounds of engagement between China and Bhutan, the dispute between the two over Doklam has not been resolved.
It flared up in when the Chinese were trying to construct a road in the area, and Indian troops, in aid of their Bhutanese counterparts, objected to it resulting in the stand-off. Doklam is strategically located close to the Siliguri corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region. The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck, is a vulnerable point for India. In recent years however, China has been beefing up its military presence in the Chumbi Valley, where the Chinese are at a great disadvantage militarily.
Both Indian and Bhutanese troops are on a higher ground around the Valley. DOKLAM BHUTAN Torsa strict Nature Resource Torsa strict Nature Resource CHINA Chumbi Valley INDIA (Sikkim) Silliguri Corridor Neora Valley National Park Gangtok Ranipool Pabong Reshi Kalimpong Manpur Gorumara National Park Siliguri Ambari Kranti Nagarakata E W N S