Hope Doklam standoff will be resolved peacefully, says Bhutan Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji

Indian External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday met Bhutanese Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji on the sidelines of BIMSTEC in Nepal’s Kathmandu.

The meeting of Swaraj and Damcho Dorji came at a time when India and China are locked in a standoff in Doklam- a disputed area claimed by both Bhutan and China. India, however, supports Bhutan’s claim as both countries share very strong diplomatic relations.

After the meeting with EAM Swaraj, Bhutan Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji hoped for peaceful resolution of the Doklam standoff between India and China.

"We hope the situation in Doklam will be resolved peacefully and amicably," Bhutan Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji told news agency ANI.

Both the leaders were in Kathmandu to attend the meeting of Foreign Ministers from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries.

However, it was not disclosed what both leaders discussed during their meeting but there are speculations that the current Doklam standoff was on the agenda.

Time with a close friend and neighbour. EAM meets with FM of Bhutan Damcho Dorji on sidelines of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' meet pic.twitter.com/VR0OOdiDF8

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 11, 2017

“Time with a close friend and neighbour. EAM meets with FM of Bhutan Damcho Dorji on sidelines of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' meet,” India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted with a picture of both leaders meeting.

Also Read | Doklam standoff: Has the Army ordered evacuation of villages near India-Bhutan-China tri-junction?

It’s been close to two months India and China are locked in a standoff in Doklam plateau- a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China. The standoff started after India on Bhutan’s request stopped a Chinese construction party from building a road in disputed region.