This refers to the report, “A strong India will benefit Bhutan too” (June 17). By inviting leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries for his swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that the countries in the neighbourhood were of utmost importance to India and promoting good relations with them would be his endeavour. He seems to be following the footsteps of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had famously said in the context of India-Pakistan ties, that one can change friends but not neighbours.
Unfortunately India's relations with neighbouring countries have not been as friendly as they ought to be. Mr. Modi's maiden foreign visit to Bhutan could begin a new era in New Delhi's relations with its neighbours. He has rightly said that having a good neighbour is important for a country's happiness. The biggest challenge for Mr Modi is to make a good neighbour out of Pakistan.