Theoretical Agreement Reached on Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s Visit to India, Date Yet to Be Fixed

Despite a theoretical agreement between Nepal and India regarding Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s visit to India, the trip is expected to take place only after some time. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal informed that although high-level visit discussions were held with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, the date has yet to be set. Ministry sources indicated that the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishra to Nepal could occur within a month, and only after this will the date for the Prime Minister’s visit be determined. 28 Chaitra, Kathmandu.

Even though Nepal and India have reached a theoretical consensus on Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s visit to India, it will take place some time later. Following Shah’s election as Prime Minister, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations along with an invitation to visit India. According to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, in response, Prime Minister Shah stated he would visit India “at an appropriate time.”

According to Minister Khanal, discussions with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also resulted in theoretical agreement on the Prime Minister’s visit to India. However, substantial preparations remain before a date can be finalized, the minister said Saturday evening. “Alongside other bilateral matters, discussions involved the topic of a high-level visit between the two countries. The date has not been set yet,” said Foreign Minister Khanal.

During a side meeting held as part of the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, conversations primarily covered Nepal’s elections and priorities set by the new government. On this occasion, Foreign Minister Khanal informed the Indian Foreign Minister that Nepal’s new government is reviewing its foreign policy and various dimensions of Nepal-India relations. “There are deep political, economic, and people-to-people ties between Nepal and India. We are studying these issues and will establish priorities within those relations,” Minister Khanal stated.