Nepal FM’s India visit marks shifting sands in bilateral relations

Nepal recalibrates relations with China

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, August 26: The Indian media largely ignored the five-day-long visit of Nepal Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana to New Delhi. Rana’s briefing to the Nepali Congress suggests sharp shift in Nepal’s approaches with two big neighbours — India and China.

Rana informed her party that India has adjusted to the change of the government in Kathmandu. Her visit was the first high-level contact with India after the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML came together to form the government.

“India’s response and reaction to the new government formed by two major political parties was positive and good,” Rana told the Nepali Congress.

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She had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Rana also had a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Subhramanhyam Jaishankar.

Coinciding with her India visit, Nepal has put the northern neighbour China on the watch. First, Nepal asked China to convert the loan for the redevelopment of the Pokhara International Airport into a grant.

Rana also said that the new government has conveyed China that Nepal may explore the grant mode and not loan for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Nepal had signed up for the BRI. Yet, no project has so far been approved.

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“One might assume that Rana carried a message from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, assuring New Delhi that Kathmandu seeks to maintain cordial relations and resolve bilateral irritants, including the Kalapani issue and Nepal’s new map, through mutual consultation,” wrote John Narayan Parajuli in The Kathmandu Post.

The incumbent prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, in his last tenure had raked up the border issue with India. On his watch a few years ago, Nepal had come out with a new map to stake claims on land within the Indian territory.

Sharma’s last tenure was marked with frequent visit of the political leaders from Nepal to China. The Chinese ambassadors had also been in spotlight in Kathmandu with their parleys with the local leaders.

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Rana didn’t mention the issue of the Kalapani during her New Delhi visit. She spoke of India agreeing to collaborate with Nepal on inundation and flooding.

Nepal is counting money with export of electricity. The US is maintaining a regular stream of visits of top officials and political leaders to Kathmandu.

Rana handed over Oli’s invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nepal. Modi’s last visit to Nepal had come amid readjustment of then prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

The Communist leader had even visited the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party. But Prachanda soon found allies deserting him, while Nepali Congress and CPN-UML joined hands.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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