Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition . | Page 34

10
SPOTLIGHT
MEASURES
TO VITALIZE
NEPAL-INDIA
RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE
NEW MODI
BY BINOJ BASNYAT*
A
fter 17 years PM Modi visited Nepal 4 times as the
Head of Government (HOG), which communicates
India’s pledge and sincerity for enhancing the
respectable and cordial relationship with Nepal. Modi
visited all the nations in the neighbourhood except Maldives
during his first tenure. Present in the first swearing-in
ceremony of Modi in 2014 were the HOG of South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations
in the immediate neighbourhood while the second tenure
beholds Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical
and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) HOGs, Chair of
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) President of
Kyrgyz Republic representing Central Asia and PM of
Mauritius of the Indian Ocean Region. The re-imagining
of neighbourhood initiates Delhi to associate with various
nations, sub-regions and regions. PM Oli of Nepal has given
an impression of being enthusiastic and prompt to be part
of the swearing-in function to be held in Delhi; at the same
time, the Nepal Communist Party came into power with
anti-India rhetoric. Nepal’s fi ve HOG but four PM including
Oli visited India during Modi’s fi rst tenure. The fi rst visit of
PM Modi in Nepal was acknowledged with eagerness and
optimism while the fourth one was accepted with dissimilar
speculation. Discussion in Kathmandu is predicting to
focus on the prospect of Nepal-India relationship, India’s
“First Neighbourhood Policy” and the Nepal Communist
Party’s (NCP) endeavour at accomplishing a geopolitical
balance, with the increase of major power manoeuvres in
the region and Nepal. Academia, politicians and diplomats in
Kathmandu have been discussing in various platforms and in
social media on what would Narendra Modi mean to Nepal?
The international situation with China and the US’s trade
war is ongoing and Trump terminating India’s designation as
a benefi ciary developing nation under GSP from 5th June.
Globalization and multilateral treaties and conventions are
less signifi cant.
The diplomacy in Modi fi rst tenure was wide-ranging from
“First Neighbourhood Policy” to engagement from almost
all the continents. With that determination, Modi will spend
more time with the immediate and extended neighbourhood.
India is deeply drawn into “Act East Policy” which expresses
the importance of BIMSTEC, while SAARC will be on hold
till Pakistan expresses seriousness in countering terrorism.
At the same time, India will be engaging Pakistan through
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The critical
platform to securing interests can be distinctly envisaged as
BIMSTEC to be the apparatus to the “Act East Policy” while
SCO to West and Central Asian Nations and the Indian Ocean
Region as part of the Indo-Pacifi c conception. BRI may not be
objectionable other than China-Pakistan Economic Corridor)
CPEC, on the contrary, can be made use of for India’s key
strategic interests by means of regional connectivity. India’s
“Strategic Balancing Policy” will be at hand focusing more
on the immediate and extended neighbourhood with reworked
“First Neighbourhood Policy” with major powers expanded
interest in the backyard.
India’s disinclination to uphold the 2015 constitution
of Nepal was the initiating point, where owned impression
34 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 7 • July 2019, Noida