KATHMANDU, Nov 27: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has conveyed the message to the Indian side that Nepal is ready to resolve all bilateral issues including border disputes through dialogue, further enhancing the multifaceted relations with India.
In a conversation with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringala at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Oli urged him to convey the message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to settle different contentious issues including border dispute.
At the beginning of the meeting, Secretary Shringala conveyed to the Prime Minister the message of his Prime Minister Modi that he wanted to take the bilateral relations between the two countries forward by making them ‘good’, informed Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Oli. He said, “The exchange of positive messages between the Prime Ministers of the two countries has created an environment for talks and discussions on bilateral issues and mutual high-level visits in the coming days.”
According to Advisor Dr. Bhattarai, during the meeting, Prime Minister Oli had said, “We want to make the mutual and multifaceted relations between the two countries more dynamic and harmonious in a 21st century and epoch-making manner. We are clear that the issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue on disputed issues, including the border.”
PM also said, “Boundary disputes between us have not arisen suddenly. These are the problems left by history as a legacy. Putting it on hold could lead to more problems, so let’s work together. I urge you to take this message to Indian Prime Minister Modi.”
Expressing confidence that the issue would reach a new height after the issues were resolved during the meeting with Secretary Shringala, Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal was clear in not allowing its territory to be used against the interests of any of its neighbors.
He said that Nepal would remain neutral and would not be used as a ‘card’ for anyone.
After India included Nepali lands Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulek in its new political map, Nepal objected and issued a new map covering its lands and passed it by the federal parliament and included it in the schedule of the constitution.
Since then, in the absence of formal talks between the two countries, the atmosphere has become more conducive to the recent visits and meetings between the Indian side and Nepal. Prior to Secretary Shringala, Samant Kumar Goel, head of the intelligence agency (RAW), and Manoj Mukund Narvane, chief of the Indian Army, visited Nepal last month as special envoys of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Asked what was the response of Indian Secretary Shringala to Nepal’s statement, Advisor Dr Bhattarai said that Secretary Shringala informed that all issues of cooperation and mutual understanding were discussed during Foreign Secretary level talks. “Secretary Shringala had assured to take initiative to make the relations between the two countries more positive and fruitful,” he said.
Secretary Shringala, who arrived in Nepal on Thursday, had earlier paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Pradip Kumar Gyawali and led formal talks at the level of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries.
