The period from the 1960s through the 1980s was transformative for Bhutan-India relations. India became Bhutan's primary development partner, funding roads, schools, and hospitals through Five-Year Plans while also shaping Bhutan's foreign and defense policy.
Overview
The decades from the 1960s[4] through the 1980s were the formative period of the modern Bhutan-India[1] relationship. Following the 1949 Treaty of Friendship, India became Bhutan's primary development partner, fundamentally shaping the country's modernization trajectory.
Development Partnership
India's contribution to Bhutan's development during this period was transformative:
- Road construction by India's Border Roads Organisation opened up the previously inaccessible country
- Funding for the Five-Year Plans that built schools, hospitals, and basic infrastructure
- Scholarships for Bhutanese students to study in Indian institutions
- Technical assistance across all sectors of government
Strategic Dimension
The relationship also had a strategic dimension, particularly after China's incorporation of Tibet in the 1950s. India's Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) was established in Bhutan to train the Royal Bhutan Army.
References
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