“There have been instances of abductions from the southern Bhutan by the miscreants from Bhutan and India… these issues are only temporary and no issue is beyond solution.” The Secretary of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, India, A.K.Mangotra, was speaking at the eighth border coordination meeting that is underway in Thimphu. The meeting began today.
A.K.Mangotra said small issues may come up occasionally and that it is important these issues be addressed at the local level.
The Secretary of Home and Cultural Affairs, Tshering Dorji, said the forum has proved to be extremely useful in all border and security related concerns and in strengthening cooperation along the porous border.
[pullquote]
…Issues have also been raised by some Indian workers in Phuentsholing about the problems faced by them in continuation of their stay in Bhutan. I am sure that these issues are only temporary and no issue is beyond solution.”
A.K.Mangotra
Secretary of Border Management
[/pullquote]
The two-day long meeting will see delegations of the two countries discuss and address all the issues related to security along the border.
The Bhutanese delegation is being led by the Secretary of Ministry of Home and cultural Affairs and the Indian delegation by the Secretary of Border Management under the Home Affairs of Government of India.
A.K.Mangotra also informed the delegations that the Indian Government is in process of improving border infrastructure including road and other means of communication.
Bhutan and India share boundaries of about 700 kilometers.
The Bhutan and India’s meeting on border management and security was first held in 2004.