diff --git a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2 b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
index baa51cf35041..49497e4fcaaa 100644
--- a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
+++ b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 !
   neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} remote-as {{ bgp_session['asn'] }}
   neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} description {{ bgp_session['name'] }}
-  neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} timers 3 10
 !
 {% if neighbor_addr | ipv4 %}
   address-family ipv4
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
index 9cf5e3d13c4a..4664395bbf27 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 !
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 remote-as 555
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 description remote_peer
-  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 5 30
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 shutdown
   address-family ipv4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 route-map FROM_BGP_INTERNAL_PEER_V4 in
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
index 41aa2ae7f800..08cffe632815 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 !
   neighbor fc::10 remote-as 555
   neighbor fc::10 description remote_peer
-  neighbor fc::10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor fc::10 timers 5 30
+  neighbor fc::10 shutdown
   address-family ipv6
     neighbor fc::10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V6
     neighbor fc::10 route-map FROM_BGP_INTERNAL_PEER_V6 in
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
index c327e417f0f6..aba5cfac0b1f 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 !
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 remote-as 555
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 description remote_peer
-  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 5 30
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 shutdown
   address-family ipv4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 next-hop-self force
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
index c73003823375..362900d57403 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 !
   neighbor fc::10 remote-as 555
   neighbor fc::10 description remote_peer
-  neighbor fc::10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor fc::10 timers 5 30
+  neighbor fc::10 shutdown
   address-family ipv6
     neighbor fc::10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V6
     neighbor fc::10 next-hop-self force
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/test_templates.py b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/test_templates.py
index 6c8204a28ec8..f8fa0b9e4028 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/test_templates.py
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/test_templates.py
@@ -105,18 +105,6 @@ def test_general_instance():
     test_data = load_tests("general", "instance.conf")
     run_tests("general_instance", *test_data)
 
-def test_internal_policies():
-    test_data = load_tests("internal", "policies.conf")
-    run_tests("internal_policies", *test_data)
-
-def test_internal_pg():
-    test_data = load_tests("internal", "peer-group.conf")
-    run_tests("internal_pg", *test_data)
-
-def test_internal_instance():
-    test_data = load_tests("internal", "instance.conf")
-    run_tests("internal_instance", *test_data)
-
 def test_dynamic_policies():
     test_data = load_tests("dynamic", "policies.conf")
     run_tests("dynamic_policies", *test_data)
diff --git a/src/sonic-py-common/sonic_py_common/multi_asic.py b/src/sonic-py-common/sonic_py_common/multi_asic.py
index f844b12287c5..a6ab17025eba 100644
--- a/src/sonic-py-common/sonic_py_common/multi_asic.py
+++ b/src/sonic-py-common/sonic_py_common/multi_asic.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 PORT_CHANNEL_CFG_DB_TABLE = 'PORTCHANNEL'
 PORT_CFG_DB_TABLE = 'PORT'
 BGP_NEIGH_CFG_DB_TABLE = 'BGP_NEIGHBOR'
-BGP_INTERNAL_NEIGH_CFG_DB_TABLE = 'BGP_INTERNAL_NEIGHBOR'
 NEIGH_DEVICE_METADATA_CFG_DB_TABLE = 'DEVICE_NEIGHBOR_METADATA'
 DEFAULT_NAMESPACE = ''
 PORT_ROLE = 'role'
@@ -360,10 +359,20 @@ def is_bgp_session_internal(bgp_neigh_ip, namespace=None):
     for ns in ns_list:
 
         config_db = connect_config_db_for_ns(ns)
-        bgp_sessions = config_db.get_table(BGP_INTERNAL_NEIGH_CFG_DB_TABLE)
-        if bgp_neigh_ip in bgp_sessions:
-            return True
+        bgp_sessions = config_db.get_table(BGP_NEIGH_CFG_DB_TABLE)
+        if bgp_neigh_ip not in bgp_sessions:
+            continue
+
+        bgp_neigh_name = bgp_sessions[bgp_neigh_ip]['name']
+        neighbor_metadata = config_db.get_table(
+            NEIGH_DEVICE_METADATA_CFG_DB_TABLE)
 
+        if ((neighbor_metadata) and
+            (neighbor_metadata[bgp_neigh_name]['type'].lower() ==
+             ASIC_NAME_PREFIX)):
+            return True
+        else:
+            return False
     return False
 
 def get_front_end_namespaces():