Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, met his counterparts from Nepal and Bhutan — Sudhan Gurung and Lungten Dorji respectively — on the sidelines of the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, reaffirming India's commitment to deepening cooperation with both South Asian neighbours. The landmark meeting, chaired by Shah, concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, marking a significant step in regional security architecture across the Bay of Bengal.

Bilateral Meetings with Nepal and Bhutan

In his meeting with Nepal's Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, Shah underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation for peace, progress, and prosperity in the region. 'We reaffirmed our commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the close ties between India and Nepal for peace, progress and prosperity in our region,' Shah said in a post on social media platform X.

In a separate meeting with Bhutan's Home Minister Lungten Dorji, Shah reiterated the shared commitment to advancing the bonds of friendship between the two countries. 'Great pleasure meeting Bhutan's Home Minister Lungten Dorji, on the sidelines of the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen the close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, advancing our common aspirations for peace, progress and prosperity,' Shah said in another post on X.

Delhi Declaration and Key Outcomes

The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting, chaired by Shah, deliberated on a framework for regional cooperation spanning five key areas: drug control; counter-terrorism and legal cooperation; repatriation of fugitives; cybersecurity and cybercrime investigation; and institutional cooperation and capacity building. The session culminated in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.

Shah described the outcome as 'historic', noting that the meeting 'builds on the vision of PM Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit' and strengthens regional cooperation for lasting peace, security, and prosperity across the Bay of Bengal.

Agreements on Human Trafficking and Drug Control

Member states made significant progress on two critical instruments: the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating Human Trafficking and an Action Plan for Drug Control, both of which were finalised at the meeting. Additionally, a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on capacity building to combat money laundering, illicit financial flows, and terror financing was also advanced, according to Shah's statement.

Why This Meeting Matters

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) groups seven nations — India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan — making it a critical platform for sub-regional connectivity and security. This is the first time Home Ministers from member states have convened under its framework, signalling a new phase of institutionalised security dialogue. Notably, the meeting comes at a time when India has been actively deepening its neighbourhood diplomacy, with border security, cross-border crime, and cyberthreats emerging as shared priorities. The Delhi Declaration is expected to serve as the operational roadmap for inter-agency coordination among BIMSTEC members going forward.