Bhutan Withdraws from BBIN Transport Plan

India could go ahead with the implementation of asub-regional connectivity project with just Bangladesh and Nepal, with Bhutan finding it difficult to get parliamentary approval for a pact that would have boosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s neighbourhood first foreign policy.

Environmental Objections

• The main reason behind Bhutan’s hesitance to sign the pact now is because of environmental concerns raised by a section of the country’s citizens.
• Since Bhutan’s objections are environmental, not political, its government may well change its mind as time goes by.
• Butan’s concerns may be assuaged if India considers the inclusion of waterways and riverine channels as a less ....