Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s visit to Delhi has been finalized. He is coming to India on November 22. Officials from both countries are discussing the agenda ahead of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s visit. Nepal has presented several conditions and proposals to India regarding Balendra Shah’s visit. Sources in Kathmandu told Navbharat Times that Balendra Shah is not coming just to meet Modi, but to have concrete discussions and ensure that the agreed-upon conditions are fully met.
Key points of Balendra Shah’s India visit: Balendra Shah will come to India on November 22 and will stay in Delhi for four days. During this time, he will have a bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi.
Regarding Balendra Shah’s visit, Nepal is demanding a massive flood relief package from India. Connectivity, water, trade, and transit routes are on the important agenda.
Nepal says that many projects have been stalled for years despite India’s political commitment and need to be completed soon.
People in Nepal are keeping an eye on Balen Shah’s visit and are expecting him to take a strong stance for Nepal on controversial issues in front of India.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s two-day visit ended yesterday, during which he met with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, and Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha.
Vikram Misri also met with Rabi Lamichhane, head of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Gagan Kumar Thapa, president of the Nepali Congress.
A bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Balen Shah will be held in New Delhi on November 23, during which several agreements will be signed. India may announce an economic package.
What tough proposals has Nepal put in front of India? Nepal’s priority is to secure a credit line from India at concessional rates and to get 2 billion dollars for reconstruction aid after the recent massive floods. Nepal wants a 1 billion dollar credit line from India, a 2 billion dollar package, a 500 million dollar grant, and 500 million dollars for reconstruction after the floods in August. The Kathmandu Post, citing a senior official from the Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that the Nepali government has formally presented its proposal to India, and now India has to decide on Nepal’s proposal. Meanwhile, a top Indian diplomatic source told Navbharat Times Online, on condition of anonymity, that New Delhi has an opportunity to connect with the people of Nepal and build a relationship with Nepal’s new politics, and India will try to agree to most of Nepal’s proposals.
Sources in New Delhi told Navbharat Times Online that the proposals given by Nepal are being considered. When Balen Shah meets PM Modi, there could be some big announcements for Nepal. Meanwhile, a source familiar with Nepal affairs told Navbharat Times Online that when KP Sharma Oli was the Prime Minister of Nepal, he had caused considerable damage to the relations between the two countries. New Delhi is treading carefully with Nepal and is keeping in mind the challenge posed by China.
A source from Nepal told Navbharat Times Online that if flights from Indian planes start from Pokhara International Airport, Balen Shah’s government can officially request the Indian government for this.
Apart from that, regarding the airport in Lumbini, Nepal also wants India’s private and government airlines to start direct flights. The problem with these two airports is that India believes they were funded by China, so India is hesitant to start air operations from either of these airports.
Nepal wants the work on the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project with India, which has been stalled for quite a long time, to move quickly. Besides this, Nepal has also demanded to start operations of its two international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, and in recent months, officials from both countries have discussed these issues. The Kathmandu Post has reported that officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of both countries could meet within the next 10 days before Balen Shah’s visit, and a positive approach has been shown from New Delhi.
Will controversial issues also be included in the discussion agenda? There are disputes between India and Nepal over Kalapani and Lipulekh, and these disputes increased significantly during KP Sharma Oli’s tenure. So far, these controversial issues haven’t been included in the agenda for Balen Shah’s visit, but Nepali officials will try to raise them during the bilateral meeting. Nepali officials have said that if India is willing, Prime Minister Balen Shah is ready to discuss the controversial issues. -TOI
