‘Indian Foreign Minister’s Nepal Visit: Balen Government Must Take a Clear Stand on Unequal Treaties and Border Issues’
Kathmandu – Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to visit Nepal shortly at the invitation of Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal. Ahead of the visit, Madan Regmi, Chairperson of the China Study Centre, has urged the Nepal government to remain vigilant and take a firm stand on unequal treaties, border issues and matters of sovereignty with India.
Regmi stated, “The Indian Foreign Minister is a seasoned diplomat. He is likely to come bearing Prime Minister Modi’s invitation and will meet Prime Minister Balen. His approach may be aimed at placating everyone, offering soothing words, and dangling the lure of investment from the world’s sixth-largest economy.” He also expressed the suspicion that Jaishankar may play the “Hindu card” to influence Prime Minister Balen.
Regmi, who chairs the China Study Centre, said the Indian side will seek to maintain the status quo in Nepal-India relations, keep the border as it is, even while building dams at the 10-yard mark that inundate Nepali territory, and speak evasively about the land under Indian occupation and the report of the Eminent Persons Group. “Their main effort will be to speak on the assumption that the Balen government does not understand China’s position in the changing world order, where it has risen to a level comparable to, or even surpassing, that of the United States,” he said.
Regmi has also outlined the agenda that the Nepal government should clearly present to the Indian side. According to him, Nepal must brief India on the various problems and mounting hardships Nepal has faced due to India’s actions. He also argues that unequal treaties must be scrapped and replaced with agreements of mutual benefit, pension camps and recruitment centres must be shut, and India must be urged to respect Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. He stressed that it must be made clear that Nepal will maintain equal relations with China just as it does with India. Regmi also put forward the demand that a system requiring passports or written permits issued at the border be put in place for travel from Nepal to India, and that such an arrangement be reciprocal.
“If anyone wishes to speak with me on this matter, I am willing and ready to assist the government. I have some general knowledge of Nepal-China relations — not quite the kind of expertise the younger generation of today possesses,” Regmi added.
