On Monday, Delhi was struck by its worst terror attack in years, a devastating car blast near the Red Fort that claimed over 10 lives. As the nation mourned, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a choice to make. On Tuesday, he was scheduled to take off for Bhutan. That choice, made in the immediate aftermath of the Red Fort bombing, says everything about how Delhi perceives its relationship with its smallest neighbour. After all, if the intention of India’s enemies was to scuttle yet another foreign trip of the Prime Minister — as they did with the Pahalgam attack while Modi was in Saudi Arabia — those designs have been foiled, with PM Modi deciding to keep his Bhutan schedule on track.

The India – Bhutan relationship has been buzzing with high-level visits from both sides. PM Modi’s decision to go ahead with the visit demonstrates that New Delhi’s commitment to Bhutan remains unshakable, even when terrorism strikes at home. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck appreciated PM Modi for making the trip despite the tragedy back home and ongoing investigations. This was after PM Modi declared that “all those responsible (for Delhi terror attack) will be brought to justice."

The optics matter. The timing matters even more. But underneath both lies a decade-long transformation of India-Bhutan relations that Modi has orchestrated with singular focus.

When Modi flew to Bhutan in June 2014, which was his very first foreign visit as Prime Minister, he wasn’t simply paying respects to an old ally. By choosing Bhutan over more prominent powers, he signalled that India’s foreign policy would be rooted in the neighbourhood.

That first visit established a template that would repeat for over a decade. Modi inaugurated projects, announced scholarships, and promised investment. He laid the foundation stone for the 600 MW Kholongchu hydroelectric project, doubled the number of scholarships for Bhutanese students studying in India from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore, and announced India would assist in........

© News18