 In 1773, Hastings responded to an appeal for help from the Raja of the princely state of Cooch Behar to the north of Bengal, whose territory had been invaded by the Zhidar the Druk Desi of Bhutan the previous year.Hastings agreed to help on the condition that Cooch Behar recognise British sovereignty.The Raja agreed and with the help of British troops they pushed the Bhutanese out of the Duars and into the foothills in 1773.