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The Print
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Oli's upcoming India visit shows the trust gap is narrowing. Nepal's China card has limits
While it is traditional for newly elected or appointed leaders in India's neighbouring countries to visit India to mark goodwill and signal an 'India first' approach, Prime Minister Oli had been awaiting an invitation. The invitation was extended by India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is on a two-day visit to Nepal from 17 to 18 August, at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart. During his visit, Misri also met Nepal's President, Prime Minister, and leaders of various political parties, including the Nepali Congress and Maoist Centre. India has finally extended an invitation to Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for a state visit, possibly in September this year. From Nepal's perspective, this was a much-awaited invitation since the Communist Party of Nepal-UML chief formed a coalition government with the Nepali Congress in July 2024. The chatter in Delhi's diplomatic circles is that India has been unhappy with Oli's stance toward India, especially during the 2019-2020 border row, when he invoked ultra-nationalism premised on anti-India sentiment. It was during Oli's tenure as PM in 2020 that the country's parliament passed a controversial amendment to adopt a new political map of Nepal. The revised map unilaterally depicted disputed territories as Nepal's own, which India strongly objected to. By altering the map in this way, Oli made the dispute intractable. For any government in Nepal—regardless of who leads it—reverting to the status quo ante is now politically untenable. The issue has become a matter of national pride, and any leader attempting a reversal would be courting political hara-kiri. As External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar once put it, Nepal's unilateral actions are 'not going to change the situation between us or reality on the ground'. However, border issues remain the central bone of contention between the two countries. Over the past five years, different governments in Nepal have regularly engaged with India, including high-level visits. But the last time Oli visited was in 2018. What makes him troubling to Delhi are his political manoeuvrings, often laced with anti-India sentiment. So what has changed in the last year for India to now welcome Oli? Also Read: India provides Nepal with military equipment, medical supplies; PM Oli likely to visit next month Diplomatic exchanges & limitations of the 'China card' To begin with, the continuation of diplomatic engagements has helped fill the trust deficit. In the past one year, there have been several high-level visits from India, including Misri in August 2024, the Nepal Foreign Minister's visit to Delhi that same month, and ministerial visits by Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar in April 2025. These have helped prepare the turf for leadership-level engagement. In addition, the two Prime Ministers have also met on two separate occasions—in New York on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA in September last year, and again at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand this April. Misri's ongoing visit is expected to finalise the agenda for Oli's upcoming trip to India. The second factor would be the proven limits of what Nepal can realistically expect from third countries in terms of assistance and development cooperation, especially from China, its northern neighbour. Notably, after the fiasco at the India-Nepal border in 2015, when Kathmandu accused Delhi of the so-called 'border blockade', Nepal began exploring alternate trade and transit routes through China and even signed deals in this regard. However, geography—distance, road infrastructure, and the Himalayan terrain—did not support such plans. In May 2017, Nepal joined the Belt and Road Initiative (then One Belt One Road), with connectivity as a central pillar. As part of this, the two countries envisaged the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network (THMCN) in 2018 to connect Tibet and Kathmandu by rail and road. It was seen as a significant step in Nepal's attempts to lessen dependence on India for trade routes, and was framed at the time as a 'diplomatic setback' for Delhi. However, BRI initiatives in Nepal have largely failed to materialise despite the highest-level efforts, including Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country in October 2019. Interestingly, during his previous terms in office, Prime Minister Oli had spearheaded efforts to reorient Nepal's foreign policy away from India and toward China. But a major question remains: what led to the non-materialisation of this ambitious partnership with China? One answer could be: who pays for such ambitious projects? While China may be keen to extend more loans for the project to gain leverage and control over the infrastructure, Nepal would prefer it to be completed under grants—something that different leaderships in Nepal have attempted to convey to Beijing. The fact is, China does not offer freebies. All its investments and activities in India's neighbourhood, including Nepal, are strategic and dual-purpose, which poses significant limitations for a geographically smaller country like Nepal when dealing with Beijing. The 'China card' may have proved to be a useful tool for certain political parties in Nepal, especially the Left, who see China as a natural ideological partner, but it cannot substitute for engagement with India. Nepal's partnership with India has flourished on the foundation of mutual trust and better connectivity that facilitates uninterrupted trade and transit, both of which are essential for the well-being of a landlocked nation. Therefore, disregarding the entire gamut of the relationship because of existing issues would be premature. Despite the differences, in the past few years, Nepal's export basket to India has expanded to include products such as hydropower, which is a major revenue source for Nepal and also expected to grow further. Issues on the agenda While the grounds for the visit are being finalised between the two countries, Prime Minister Oli's key focus will likely be on building trust with Delhi. A possible invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Nepal, who has yet to make a state visit there in his third term, could make a difference. Secondly, this visit might also be politically crucial for Oli, as his coalition with the Nepali Congress remains in a lurch due to deadlocks over constitutional reforms and the introduction of new bills. Considering the Nepali Congress has traditionally been close to India, a result-oriented visit to Delhi might help strengthen the coalition. Thirdly, Prime Minister Oli may push for enhanced air connectivity with India, particularly between Nepalgunj and Delhi. While land connectivity already exists between Nepal's western region and India, direct air links could improve public transport and reduce travel time. India, however, may have its own concerns about regional air connectivity with Nepal, including security and route viability, which the two leaders might discuss to resolve. Should Oli succeed in reaching an understanding, it would not only advance bilateral ties but also highlight his diplomatic acumen on the domestic turf. Additionally, issues concerning trade and security, as well as revising the 1953 Extradition Treaty, could be seen in deliberations. Also Read: It's time to move on from Kalapani and Ayodhya. India-Nepal need a real reset Beyond the zero-sum game The visit provides an opportunity to strengthen trust, but Delhi must also show openness by addressing Nepal's reasonable concerns, including the feasibility of new air connectivity routes. Besides this, the Indian and Nepali media need to rethink their approach to reporting on bilateral ties. More often than not, the media in both countries have been at loggerheads and are overly sensitive to developments in the relationship. For the Indian media, not every engagement between Nepal and China should be seen as a loss for India or as directed against Delhi. As a landlocked country, it is natural for Nepal to interact with its neighbours. Conversely, the Nepali media could rethink before pegging a diplomatic deadlock with India as a 'high time strategy' for Nepal to shift gears and move north. Overall, India and Nepal stand as one of the finest examples in diplomacy that bilateral relations need not be a zero-sum game. When guided by trust and mutual benefit, the partnership can create shared prosperity that uplifts both nations. Rishi Gupta is a commentator on global affairs. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
United News of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Foreign Secretary Misri calls on Nepal PM Oli, hands over invite for India visit
Kathmandu/New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is visiting Kathmandu, called on Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today and formally handed over an invitation for his India visit. During the meeting with Oli at the latter's office in Singha Durbar, Misri handed him the invitation letter on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat. "During the courtesy meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri handed over an invitation letter from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Oli. Prime Minister Oli thanked him for the invitation," the PM's Secretariat told Nepalkhabar. The Indian side has proposed September 16-17 for Oli's India visit. However, the dates for the visit have not yet been finalised. Misri arrived on a two-day official visit to Nepal in the morning at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai. He paid courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba. Misri called on President Ramchandra Paudel at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, today. On the occasion, Paudel said Nepal has benefitted from India's progress as a close neighbour and friend, and expressed hope for greater benefits in the future. 'As a rising international power, India's progress in socio-economic and technological fields has made us happy and encouraged. As a close friend and neighbour, Nepal has benefitted from India's achievements and seeks to gain more,' Paudel's Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted him as saying. Highlighting the longstanding social, cultural, religious, spiritual, economic, and people-to-people ties between the two nations, President Paudel said Nepal-India relations are based on sovereign equality, friendly cooperation, mutual respect and trust. He added that Nepal has always placed high priority on its relations with India and appreciates India's 'Neighborhood First' policy. According to the President's Press Advisor, Misri said under PM Modi's policy of prioritising neighbouring countries, Nepal holds an important place. Misri also expressed confidence that his visit would provide an opportunity to discuss enhancing connectivity for mutual progress and development in the modern era, thereby further strengthening bilateral relations. Misri also paid a courtesy call on CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's personal residence in Lalitpur, according to Dahal's secretariat. During the meeting, they exchanged views on various dimensions of Nepal-India relations. FS Misri and his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai held a bilateral meeting this evening. During the meeting, the two secretaries discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation ranging from connectivity to trade, and development collaboration to bilateral partnership, reinforcing the robust bond between the two countries. "The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including connectivity, trade and development cooperation, underscoring the strong bond between the two nations," the Nepalese Foreign Ministry said. Earlier after his arrival in the morning, Misri performed a special puja at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Misri will return home on Monday, wrapping up his two-day visit to Nepal. The Indian Embassy in Nepal said in posts on X: 'Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri called on the Rt. Hon'ble President of Nepal Mr. Ramchandra Paudel @RcPaudelNepal and conveyed greetings of the Indian leadership, apart from briefing Hon'ble President on the progress in bilateral ties.' 'Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri called on the Rt. Hon'ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli @kpsharmaoli. 'FS reaffirmed the deep civilizational ties and strong India-Nepal partnership, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation across various sectors.' UNI RN SSP
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Visit visa scam: Nepal govt forms probe panel, 2 Opp parties say ‘cover-up' act
Nepal Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who has rejected the demand for his resignation in what is known as 'visit visa ' scam, on Tuesday announced formation of a seven-member probe committee, but the two main opposition parties outrightly rejected it saying it is nothing but a 'cover-up act'. Lekhak said in the House of Representatives that the government has accepted his proposal and constituted a 7-member team headed by former Chief secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, which will conduct a probe into the alleged rampant extortion of Nepalis traveling on visit visa by the immigration authorities at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Members of two Opposition parties, the Rastriya Swatantra Party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, walked out of the House in protest alleging that the choice of members in the panel–all serving bureaucrats — was clearly intended to shield Lekhak and others. The opposition parties, including the main Opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), had earlier demanded a probe and resignation of the Home Minister to ensure a fair investigation. However, the CPN (Maoist Centre) changed its stance and agreed to have a probe without the resignation of the minister. CPN (Maoist Centre) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda justified the party's stand. 'Truth in the visit visa scam should come out,' he said, adding that the other opposition parties would realise later that the stand taken by the patry was the most appropriate one. Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, chief of Immigration, is under suspension and is being investigated for the scam but Lekhak, backed by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba, has all along said the minister cannot be held accountable for bureaucrats' errors.
News18
13-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Nepals parliament deadlock ends as 3 key parties reach agreement on visa scam
Kathmandu, Jun 13 (PTI) The over two-week-long deadlock in Nepal's House of Representatives (HoR) ended on Friday after the ruling Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre) reached a two-point agreement addressing the visit visa scam and immigration irregularities. The HoR session resumed after 17 days of obstruction by opposition parties, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over alleged involvement in the visa scam. The agreement, signed by the three parties, includes full cooperation with the ongoing investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and a commitment to policy, legal, and structural reforms in the immigration and visa systems, Nepali Congress (NC) MP Bimalendra Nidhi said. Despite the agreement, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) continued their protest, saying that it was not satisfied with the deal reached between the ruling alliance and the Maoist Centre. The opposition parties, including the Maoist Centre and RSP, have been obstructing the lower house of Parliament since May 27 demanding resignation of Home Minister and NC leader Lekhak. The CIAA, the anti-graft body, during an investigation found that immigration officers at the Tribhuvan International Airport were allowing Nepalese youths seeking jobs abroad to visit a third country on visit visa without producing work permits by paying tens of thousands of rupees as bribes. The chief of the immigration department at the airport has been suspended following a raid by the CIAA. The opposition parties have alleged that Home Minister Lekhak was also involved in the scam and demanded his resignation to allow impartial investigation into the case. However, Lekhak has denied the allegation and assured to cooperate with the anti-graft body in the ongoing investigation into the immigration irregularities. Home Minister Lekhak addressed the House, denying any involvement in the scam. Home Minister Lekhak also accused the RSP of registering complaints against him by bringing fake victims in the case. PTI SBP SCY SCY First Published: June 13, 2025, 21:30 IST
Time Business News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time Business News
A Rising Young Leader, Ujawal Jha, Opens Up About South Nepal's Community Building
By Staff Reporter Mahottari, Nepal – Date:- 2025-05-18 Grassroots activist and new generation rural leader in Mahottari District of Nepal, Ujawal Jha, is quickly becoming a key player in rural development efforts focused upon addressing the most intractable social problems in the district. With a history of success in disaster relief, health awareness programs, and welfare activities, Jha is seen by many as part of a new generation of rural youth leaders shaping rural Nepal's future. Balwa Municipality resident Ujawal Jha was born in 1992 into a politically active family. He belongs to the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and spent his past ten years organizing among poor communities in Nepal's Tarai-Madhes region. He has worked in areas from raising awareness of snakebite-related deaths, a common problem in Nepal's south, to providing free medical kits during religious processions like Mithila Madhyamik Parikrama. Jha's new initiative in post-fire rehabilitation work in Matihani Municipality has been welcomed by civil society organizations in Nepal. He was able to arrange delivery of crucial relief items — including food, blankets, and medicines — to affected families in time. Coordination with shelters such as Manavseva Ashram by him also ensured support to elderly persons and homeless populations. Outside Nepal, Jha has also connected Nepali diaspora to grassroots organizations in Nepal. He has facilitated humanitarian efforts in more than 20 countries through international outreach and cyberactivism. Community members as well as outsiders make note of the frequent presence of Jha in the field and his ability to engage directly with vulnerable populations. 'He's not giving empty speeches,' said a health volunteer in a community. 'He's there, listening and responding to what the community needs.' Analysts describe such leaders as Jha as representing a broader trend in Nepali politics towards localized, service-oriented leadership. With politics increasingly drawing people in, leaders such as Jha are presenting themselves as pragmatic problem solvers, rather than partisans. Unobtrusively promoting nothing for himself, Ujawal Jha works quietly but persistently, building support groups and mobilizing resources where they are needed most. His style — informed as much by politics as by community outreach — is already becoming a model of youth leadership in the district. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
