The latest issue of Sharp Scope (Vol. 2 | No. 1 | October 2025), authored by Riddhik Parashar, delves into the strategic and developmental significance of Assam in advancing India–Bhutan relations. As India deepens its neighbourhood diplomacy, this brief highlights how subnational engagement — or paradiplomacy — can bridge traditional diplomacy with regional aspirations.
From cross-border cultural exchanges and hydropower cooperation to the proposed Gelephu–Kokrajhar rail corridor, Assam stands as a linchpin in India’s eastern diplomacy. This issue brief examines the state’s evolving role in security coordination, ecological collaboration, and people-to-people connectivity — positioning it as a new frontier of India–Bhutan cooperation.
Read the full issue brief in the PDF below ↓↓↓
Series: Sharp Scope | SamvadaWorld Think-Tank Series
Volume: 2 | Issue: 1 | Date: October 2025
Riddhik Parashar holds an MA in IR and Area Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He has experience in policy research, political consulting, and freelance writing on international affairs and policy issues. He has also qualified for the UGC-NET in International Relations. Views expressed are personal.
Archita Gaur 
Dr Lakshmi Karlekar 
Divyanka Tandon