Nepal's PM heads to India to mend fences, win benefits
Pushpa Kamal Dahal faces delicate diplomacy between New Delhi and Beijing
KATHMANDU -- Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is set to embark on a four-day diplomatic mission to India, aiming to improve a critical relationship strained by disputes over borders and power projects.
With their 1,770-kilometer open border, Nepal has traditionally depended on trade with its southern neighbor, while India has exerted significant political influence in the Himalayan nation. But ties deteriorated three years ago, when Nepal issued a "political map" incorporating disputed northwestern territory controlled by India, which had inaugurated a road to China through the area.
Kathmandu has stood by its position on the map, while New Delhi appears unwilling to even put the dispute on the bilateral agenda. Nevertheless, Dahal may recognize the need for pragmatism.
"The success of any Nepali prime minister hinges on a good relationship with India, as Nepal heavily relies on its southern neighbor," said Indra Adhikari, a geostrategic analyst based in Kathmandu. "Dahal should start small and work towards creating a conducive environment for better relations, with an emphasis on regaining trust and normalizing the bilateral ties."
Dahal begins his four-day trip on Wednesday, and his delegation is due to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. He is also expected to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Ram Karki, a senior leader in Dahal's Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), said it is crucial for the country to gain the confidence of its neighbors, given its small size and strategic position between much larger India and China. "Nepal must clearly express its national interests and prioritize them at all times. The prime minister's primary responsibility is to establish trust," he said.
Dahal has his own baggage when it comes to dealing with New Delhi. During an earlier stint as prime minister in 2008, the former Maoist rebel chief broke with tradition by visiting China first, before going to India. Sharp criticism of the move contributed to his short tenure of just nine months.
He did not try that again: He went to India first during another similarly brief period in office from 2016 to 2017.
Since returning to power in December, Dahal has shown a desire for better relations with India -- including, according to local media, patiently waiting for months to confirm the date of this week's visit.
Some in his camp are prodding him to find more common ground with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party government. On May 19, a member of the central committee of Dahal's party submitted a demand urging him to hold a plebiscite on the issue of secularism -- an attempt to address the BJP's agenda. Nepal's 2015 constitution, despite opposition from India, proclaimed the Hindu-majority country a federal and secular republic.
Still, balance is the goal for Kathmandu. Former Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota, the vice chair of the Maoist ruling party, recently led a 20-member delegation to China. On May 26, Sapkota met with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, in Beijing.
Yet managing ties with the two powers -- which are at odds over their own territorial dispute and regional rivalry -- can be tricky.
Significant priorities on Nepal's agenda include attracting Indian investment in hydropower and expanding electricity exports to India as well as Bangladesh to address a trade deficit and promote economic development. But India has made it clear that it will not grant market access to hydro projects developed or funded by China -- a point of consternation for Kathmandu. This stance has compelled Nepal to remove Chinese contractors from certain projects and grant contracts to Indian companies.
The bilateral relationship between Nepal and India is further strained by the issue of air routes. Currently, the majority of international flights to Nepal rely on Indian airspace, with India permitting only one route into south-central Nepal. Kathmandu has consistently appealed to New Delhi to grant additional corridors, particularly following the inauguration of two new international airports.
"We have a tendency to prioritize the construction of large airports without adequately addressing vital aspects like air routes," Karki said. "These issues must be resolved through diplomatic means."
Many Nepalis resent India, believing it hampers Nepal's progress and development. Politicians including Dahal have cashed in on this sentiment to garner support. But when in power, Nepali leaders have a track record of compromising to maintain amicable ties with New Delhi.
Adhikari, the geostrategic expert, said Nepal has so far been unable to make the most of its proximity to a growing India. "Dahal's visit should focus on forging better ties and working together to fulfill Nepal's aspirations," she said.
In a recent editorial, The Kathmandu Post urged Dahal to seek benefits from India's economic transformation without giving up its own interests, while urging New Delhi to show magnanimity in dealing with smaller neighbors.
"If India remains engaged in petty battles in its own neighborhood, it will find it difficult to spread its wings wide," the paper wrote. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Dahal to display his diplomatic skills -- just like it is for Modi to show that he remains committed to winning Nepali hearts and minds."