News Highlight
Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal at a ceremony on December 26, 2022, in Kathmandu: to strengthen India-Nepal ties.
Key Takeaway
- This is Prachanda’s third stint as the head of government in the 14 years since Nepal’s monarchy was abolished.
- Before joining mainstream politics in 2006, he had led the Maoist revolt in Nepal for over a decade.
- Until Sunday, Prachanda was in a pre-election alliance with former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
- This five-party alliance, led by Deuba’s Nepali Congress, was the frontrunner after the November 20 elections, winning the largest number of seats in a fractured mandate.
- However, Prachanda left the alliance at the last moment after Deuba turned down his demand for the PM chair.
India-Nepal ties
- Historical Ties
- Nepal is a significant neighbour of India and holds a special place in its foreign policy due to the geographical, historical, cultural, and economic ties that go back many centuries.
- Given that Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is today’s Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism have parallel ties to India and Nepal.
- The two nations have tight relationships through marriages and familial ties, colloquially known as Roti-Beti ka Rishta.
- In addition to sharing an open border and allowing unrestricted movement of people between them.
- The foundation of the unique ties between India and Nepal is the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950.
Significance of India-Nepal Relations
- Trade and Economy
- India is Nepal’s leading trading partner and the country that brings in the most foreign capital.
- The majority of Nepal’s trade with other nations transits via it.
- Connectivity
- One side of landlocked Nepal is exposed to Tibet, which has relatively minimal transportation access.
- India also surrounds it on three sides.
- Defence Cooperation
- Bilateral defence cooperation assists the Nepalese Army in modernising by providing equipment and training.
- Multilateral Platform
- India and Nepal work in multilateral forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement, BBIN, BIMSTEC, and SAARC.
- Cultural
- Efforts have been undertaken to promote communication between different local organisations in Nepal engaged in academia, the media, and the arts and cultures.
- India has inked three sister-city agreements for Kathmandu-Varanasi, Lumbini-Bodhgaya, and Janakpur-Ayodhya.
- Aid for the needy
- Because of its location in a seismically and flood-prone area, Nepal needs humanitarian assistance.
- It is still the primary recipient of humanitarian aid from India.
Nepal’s grievances against India
- Even in their constitution, Nepal opposes Indian intervention in their domestic affairs.
- Nepal believes India does not allow it to pursue independent foreign policy, particularly regarding China.
- India acts like a big bully when Nepal tries to make independent decisions.
Challenges in the India-Nepal ties
- Territorial Disputes
- The Kalapani boundary dispute is one of the most pressing issues in Indo-Nepal relations.
- The British established these boundaries in 1816, and India inherited the areas over which the British had exercised territorial control in 1947.
- Issues with the Peace and Friendship Treaty
- The Nepali authorities sought the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1949 to maintain their special links with British India and provide them with an open border and the right to work in India.
- China’s Intervention
- Nepal has recently shifted away from India’s influence, and China has gradually filled the void with investments, aid, and loans.
- Nepal is a crucial partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and China wants to invest in Nepal’s infrastructure as part of its grand plans to boost global trade.
- Rising Nepal-China cooperation may jeopardise Nepal’s status as a buffer between India and China.
- Trust and Ethnic Differences
- Because of India’s reputation for delaying project implementation, the trust gap between India and Nepal has grown over time.
Way Forward
- India should stop viewing Nepal solely through a security lens and instead regard bilateral relations as transactional and part of a zero-sum game with China.
- India should prioritise multifaceted relationships that benefit both countries.
- Under the auspices of International Law on Transboundary Water Disputes, India should engage in diplomatic negotiations with Nepal to resolve their boundary dispute.
- In this case, resolving boundary disputes between India and Bangladesh should serve as a model.
- India should maintain a policy of staying out of Nepal’s internal affairs while guiding the country toward a more inclusive democracy in the spirit of friendship.
Pic Courtesy: freepik
Content Source: Indian Express