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Nepal's Parliament including 3 disputed areas in a new map & other recent developments have marked a low point in relations between the two countries.
It takes two hands to clap and both the Nepalese and Indian sides have to be blamed for letting relations deteriorate.
Nepal's Parliament including 3 disputed areas in a new map & other recent developments have marked a low point in relations between the two countries.
It takes two hands to clap and both the Nepalese and Indian sides have to be blamed for letting relations deteriorate.
First off, in my opinion, the current border row has nothing to do with any hidden Chinese hand in Nepal pushing this.
On the contrary the Indian side are using an agreement with China in May 2015 on trade through Lipu Lekh to buttress its position.
On the contrary the Indian side are using an agreement with China in May 2015 on trade through Lipu Lekh to buttress its position.
Border dispute in a sense shows the evolution of Indo-Nepal ties.
Nepalese Monarchy though aware of the dispute never brought it to a boil to ensure smooth ties.
This changed as political parties came in, politicisation of foreign policy took place & Nepal asserted itself.
Nepalese Monarchy though aware of the dispute never brought it to a boil to ensure smooth ties.
This changed as political parties came in, politicisation of foreign policy took place & Nepal asserted itself.
Immediate provocation was New Delhi publishing a Map in Nov 2019 that showed disputed area under it.
Insult to injury was added when despite requests for talks from Nepal no heed was paid
Final blow from Nepal's perspective came with road being inaugurated by India in May 2020
Insult to injury was added when despite requests for talks from Nepal no heed was paid
Final blow from Nepal's perspective came with road being inaugurated by India in May 2020
As Nepal reacted the icing on the top was the Indian Army Chief's highly intemperate remark that Nepal was making its moves on the behest of China !
This perhaps inflamed popular public opinion more than any cartographic aggression.
This perhaps inflamed popular public opinion more than any cartographic aggression.
On the Nepalese side the issue came as manna from heaven for a domestically besieged Nepal PM K.P Oli accused of poor governance and bad handling of COVID-19.
Remember now that K.P Oli won an election using the 2015 Indian blockade and nationalism as a major election plank.
Remember now that K.P Oli won an election using the 2015 Indian blockade and nationalism as a major election plank.
A politician who was no stranger to populism, nationalism & guerrilla tactics, K.P Oli jumped at this unintended lifeline from India & started stoking the fires.
What followed were undiplomatic language of 'Indian virus being more lethal than Chinese and Italian'.
What followed were undiplomatic language of 'Indian virus being more lethal than Chinese and Italian'.
The Nepal PM was in full display of his populist political powers as he poked fun of India's national anthem and slogan, did other hard talking, deployed armed police to patrol the area and then made the final move of putting the new Map in Parliament.
Nepalese masses loved their PM taking on the proverbial Goliath (from the Nepalese perspective) & soon all parties fell in line including the 'pro-India' Madhesi parties who all passed the new Map unanimously in the lower house.
It was domestic politics over foreign policy.
It was domestic politics over foreign policy.
The diplomatic and political slugfest was bad enough at the official levels, but it has been made decidedly worse as the media and social media from both sides have had a go at each other.
The timing was also bad as India is embroiled in a border standoff with China.
The timing was also bad as India is embroiled in a border standoff with China.
Normally India-Nepal diplomatic spats including the 2015 blockade or the 1989, and 1970 blockades before it has normally had an angry Nepalese public with a largely unaware Indian public.
This time it went 'public' on the Indian side too making this a different spat.
This time it went 'public' on the Indian side too making this a different spat.
Despite an exceedingly bad taste in everyone's mouth the current spat will not impact the bedrock of India-Nepal ties if both sides leave the issue at this & carry on with their own maps & claims.
However, all bets are off if both or any side continues making it a central issue.
However, all bets are off if both or any side continues making it a central issue.
To add some perspective, the India-Nepal spat is not a unique Modi or Oli caused phenomenon, but the occasional spats or are due to deep structural issues in the vary nature of the ties between the two countries of unequal size and strength and various issues stemming from that.
One of the many lessons to draw from this spat is that both India and Nepal should stop relying on their religious and cultural affinities to take the relation forward and focus on the more practical and current issues relevant to both sides.
For those who talk about Nepal's 'China card or option' in Kathmandu and New Delhi, I am not terribly impressed.
This was visible in the literally zero help from China during the 2015 blockade.
Geography is a reality that cannot be wished away here.
This was visible in the literally zero help from China during the 2015 blockade.
Geography is a reality that cannot be wished away here.
The way forward for two countries is to be more sensitive to each other's concerns as no one can change their neighbours.
India is the giant economic and security power of the region.
Nepal is a medium sized but important himalayan state in the region.
Deal with the realities.
India is the giant economic and security power of the region.
Nepal is a medium sized but important himalayan state in the region.
Deal with the realities.
