Friendly visit

Sir — India and Bhutan have an intertwined history and economy. By choosing Thimphu as the first foreign capital to visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a deft diplomatic card, giving Bhutan the importance it wants and deserves, while underlying the special relationship between the two nations. Naturally, this will also serve to counter the increasing Chinese influence there. 

The new Government’s emphasis on India’s ties with its neighbours, if pursued with tact and clarity of vision, can surely earn the country rich diplomatic dividends. If India earns the confidence of its neighbouring countries, it will do a lot of good to the new Government’s image elsewhere in the world.