NEW DELHI: As India remains aloof from the current political crisis in Nepal, it seeks instead to focus on its economic ties, Kathmandu it has said that the Nepalese government will not allow the current instability to get in the way of bilateral cooperation with India.
Speaking for the first time since KP Sharma Oli’s government dissolved the lower house of Parliament last week, plunging the country into political turmoil, Nepalese Ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya told TOI that Oli’s government is seeking hold the meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of chancellor. you will see the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Pradeep Gyawali visiting India.
“Preparations are under way for the Joint Commission meeting and the visit of the Foreign Minister. The lower house of Parliament has been dissolved, but the government and other institutions are still working,” Acharya said, adding that relations Bilaterals with India have improved significantly in recent months after tensions over the Kalapani dispute.
“With the visit of Indian army boss and then the foreign secretary, there has been a change in the relationship and this trend will continue, “said Acharya.
Nepal’s reciprocity of India’s expressed willingness to build on the recent improvement in ties is significant at a time when India refuses to become a factor in Nepal’s domestic politics, even as China makes a brazen and frantic effort to keep Oli and his rival PK Dahal Prachanda together.
While staying away from the political shenanigans in Kathmandu, India has tried to continue to build bilateral commitments on the discussions during the foreign secretary. Shringla toughvisit last month.
The visit was followed by 2 consecutive virtual meetings between the secretaries of commerce and energy. The Oli government had responded positively to Shringla’s suggestion to resume people-to-people contacts and to start an air travel bubble between the 2 countries.
Indian Ambassador VM Kwatra met with Nepal’s new energy minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi on Monday and discussed bilateral energy and energy cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects.
Despite his pro-China image, and earlier decision to publish a new political map of Nepal, Oli had worked in recent months to improve ties with India and also allay concerns that his government would act in China’s interest.
Sources in Kathmandu continue to insist that Nepal would never have published a new map if India had previously agreed to address the Kalapani issue through dialogue.
While India, unlike China, is not clinging to the idea of unity in the ruling CPN, the government also knows that any intervention in the Nepal crisis is unlikely to be welcomed not only by the political establishment in Kathmandu but also by the common man.
China, which swiftly sent a delegation to help resolve the differences between Oli and Dahal, faces allegations of interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.
The leader of the Chinese delegation, Guo Yezhou, had met with President BD Bhandari and Oli on Sunday. On Monday, he met with Dahal, apparently to convince him to drop his opposition to Oli, and MK Nepal, who replaced Oli as the party’s co-chair. Guo was also said to have discussed with Oli whether it would be possible for him to reverse his decision to dissolve the House of Representatives. The Supreme Court will decide on the merits of the decision next month.
China on Monday also urged all parties in Nepal to take into account the nation’s interest, the big picture and “properly handle internal disputes” and strive for political stability and national development. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the CCP will work together with all political parties in Nepal to promote the China-Nepal strategic cooperative partnership and promote the benefits for the people of the 2 countries.
.
