KATHMANDU, Nov.26: Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is arriving in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Shringla’s Nepal visit comes as yet another step towards improving the relations between Nepal and India, that went sour after the latter published a map incorporating Nepali territory in the Kalapani region of Darchula district in November last year. In response, Nepal also published a new political map incorporating Nepal’s territory in May this year.
The two-day trip of the top diplomat is the third in a row from the southern neighbour after the year-long stalemate — including the ritualistic visit of the Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane earlier this month.
In October, Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Chief Samant Goel paid a visit to Nepal as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Goel’s visit was the outcome of the telephone conversation between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Modi on August 15.
Although his visit drew a widespread criticism even from the leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), the government said that it was an effort in mending the ties between the two countries.
The relations between the two neighbours hit the nadir after India, ignoring diplomatic notes from Nepal in protest to the map incorporating the Nepali territory and continuous calls for dialogue, developed and inaugurated a road link to Lipulek, border with Tibet, in May this year. Against this backdrop, the visit of top diplomats like Shringla is expected to further ease the relations between the two countries.
Reports in the Indian media have also hinted that there would be informal discussions about the border issue during the bilateral meetings. However, Nepal will have to wait for yet another talk to formally discuss its grievances.
Shringla will also deliver a talk on India’s neighbourhood policy and Nepal-India relations at Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu on Friday morning. The programme is being organised by Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs. He will hand over COVID-19-related support to Nepal as well.
