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These days a new wave is being seen in Nepal’s politics. The stance taken by Prime Minister Balen Shah regarding his foreign policy after assuming power in Kathmandu has sparked discussion not only in Beijing but also in the corridors of Delhi. It is reported that Balen Shah has taken a tough decision not to go on any foreign trip within the first 100 days of his tenure. This simply means that till the end of June, Balen Shah will neither visit India nor step on Chinese soil.

Actually, Balen Shah’s entire focus at the moment is on “putting the house in order first”. Sources in the Nepalese Prime Minister’s Secretariat and Foreign Ministry say the government has set a strict target for the first three months to fulfill its election promises. According to the news coming from Kathmandu, the Prime Minister believes that giving concrete results within the country is more important than international meetings. In such a situation, visits to neighboring countries like India and China have slipped down on their priority list.

Balen’s ’60 conditions’ before going to Delhi

Even though Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Balen Shah to visit Delhi on the day of his swearing-in (27 March), but this time Nepal’s attitude is not the same as before. It is being told that Balen Shah has prepared a long list of about 50 to 60 issues for his visit to India. This is being seen in diplomatic circles as Balen’s ‘conditions’. In fact, he is not in favor of mere ceremonial visits like the past Prime Ministers.

Balen Shah intends to speak openly on controversial and sensitive issues like Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and the revised political map of Nepal. He has given clear instructions to his Foreign Minister Khanal that all the past bilateral achievements and unresolved issues should be studied in depth and solutions should be found keeping the national interest paramount.

Budget and domestic challenges became ‘obstacles’

According to the administrative officials of Nepal, there are some practical reasons behind Balen Shah not traveling abroad immediately. At present, the government has a big domestic responsibility like solving the problems of landless people. Apart from this, preparations for the national budget to be presented on May 29 are also in full swing. A close aide of the Prime Minister says that “when there is a pile of budget and public expectations at home, it is difficult to travel abroad at the moment.”

According to the Nepali calendar, there is little possibility of any major tour before the month of Ashadha (June-July). There are no indications of any official program being decided even in the month of Jeshtha.

Diplomatic stir intensifies in India-Nepal relations

Even though there is a delay in Balen Shah’s visit, talks at the diplomatic level have not stopped. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Kathmandu on May 11 for a two-day visit. It is being told that during this visit of Misri, many points of the agenda prepared by Balen Shah can be discussed. After Misri’s visit, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Khanal may also visit India, which will pave the way for the future meeting of the Prime Ministers of the two countries.

Currently, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry is reviewing past agreements and priorities through inter-ministerial consultations. This strategy of Balen Shah clearly indicates that in the coming times, a new and equal chapter can be seen in Nepal-India relations, where there will be no compromise on friendship as well as national interests.