| India Appeases Bhutan King
King Jigme Singhe Wangchuk, 50, received a mammoth treat in New Delhi-- he was the chief guest at India's Repubic Day celeberations. But India's apparently cordial gesture was after all not that apparently cordial. As the Times of India opined: "The king's visit cannot be seen as one that celebrates the spirit of the Indian republic. Hence, the visit is ofstrategic importance to India. The Sikkim-Nepal-Bhutan triangle has generally been ignored, with Bhutan being subjected to benign neglect...Inviting the king is part of a larger appeasement policy." (The Times of India, Jan 27/05)
• Bhutan, India wary abou letting China into SAARC, NIP, Jan 26/05
• India pledges enhanced aid to Bhutan, Xinhua, Jan 29
• Bhutan to sign three MoUs with India: Wangchuk, NK, Jan 25/05
• India, Bhutan sign landmark rail link accord, AsiaTimes, Jan 26/05