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India’s strong message to Nepal’s ‘Gen Z’ PM As soon as he took power in Kathmandu, Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balen Shah started showing his attitude towards India. But now India has also given the first big blow to Nepal by making it realize its diplomatic power. Balen Shah is finding it costly to get involved with the neighboring country on whose help Nepal’s entire economy depends. India has made it clear through its tough stance that it will not compromise on its territorial integrity and dignity of relations.

Foreign Secretary’s visit suddenly canceled The latest controversy deepened when Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri suddenly decided to postpone his proposed visit to Nepal. This two-day tour was to begin on May 11. The timing of the cancellation of the tour is very important, because just before this Balen Shah had given controversial statements regarding the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. India not only revealed the reality of his claims to the world, but also gave a strong diplomatic message to Nepal by canceling the tour. In the world of diplomacy, postponement of such a high-level visit without any concrete reason is considered a big deal.

Balen Shah’s ‘no meeting’ policy proved costly Experts believe that Balen Shah has shot himself in the foot with his short-sighted policies. According to a report in ‘Kathmandu Post’, Shah has made a strange ‘no meeting’ policy of not meeting any foreign official. He had refused to meet even US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Sergio Gore and Assistant Secretary Sameer Paul Kapoor. Ignoring the advice of Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle and Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Shah is adamant on his insistence, due to which the entire country may now have to suffer the consequences.

The real controversy of Lipulekh and Mansarovar Yatra The Lipulekh border dispute has emerged as a big thorn behind the postponement of the tour. Recently India and China decided to restart the Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh Pass, to which the Shah administration raised objection. Nepal claims Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani citing the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. However, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has made it clear that India does not accept such unilateral claims of Nepal. He reminded that this journey has been going on continuously since 1954 and will continue in future also.

India’s generosity and Nepal’s future Balen Shah, who became PM after the coup in Nepal, was expected to have a better foreign policy, but he seems to be failing in managing relations with his neighbours. Despite this, India has shown its generosity by continuing the supply of essential commodities like petroleum and fertilizers. Even though the Foreign Secretary’s visit has been postponed, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal may attend the ‘International Big Cat Alliance’ summit in Delhi on June 1. Officially, the reason for postponement of the tour has been given as ‘preoccupation’, but experts in diplomacy know that the real reason for this is Balen Shah’s stubborn attitude.