Doklam at play, timed to visit

TT, New Delhi, Oct. 3: Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar today met the monarch and the Prime Minister of Bhutan amid reports that the Chinese army was again gathering troops near Doklam.

There was no readout on any of Jaishankar's meetings during the second day of his three-day official visit to Thimphu, the first since the India-China stand-off on the tri-junction.

Neither has there been any official confirmation from the Indian side on the reports in a section of the media that the People's Liberation Army of China is back in larger numbers near Doklam. A month ago, both sides had agreed to withdraw troops after a 72-day impasse.

Jaishankar called on Bhutan's monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay. He also held talks with foreign minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji.

The stand-off that put Bhutan in the crossfire is expected to have come up during his talks in Thimphu. Another issue likely to have been brought up by the Bhutanese side pertains to the impact of the goods and services tax (GST) on Bhutan's economy.

A recent report of the Asian Development Bank had said the GST could have an adverse impact on Bhutan's economy. Bhutanese media had reported about Indian trucks being stuck on the border trading town of Jaigaon because of hiccups linked to the new tax regime.