Samajho's Android app | Samajho's IOS app | Youtube Channel | Telegram Channel | Instagram Channel
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPOLISH INDIA-NEPAL TIES
What the article is about?
- Talks about the prospects of re-polishing the India-Nepal ties in the backdrop of recent visit by Nepal PM to India.
Syllabus: GS-II International Relations- India and its neighbourhood relations
India-Nepal relations:
- Nepal is an important neighbour of India and occupies special significance in its foreign policy because of the geographic, historical, cultural and economic linkages/ties that span centuries.
- Roti-Beti ka Rishta
- share similar ties in terms of Hinduism and Buddhism
- India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950
- India is Nepal’s largest trade partner
- Bilateral defence cooperation includes assistance to Nepalese Army in its modernisation through provision of equipment and training.
- The Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army
- 3 sister-city agreements for twinning Kathmandu-Varanasi, Lumbini-Bodhgaya and Janakpur-Ayodhya.
- share multiple multilateral forums such as BBIN, BIMSTEC, Non-Aligned Movement, and SAARC
Concerns:
- China’s Intervention:
- China considers Nepal a key partner in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),
- Rising Nepal and China cooperation can undermine Nepal’s distinction of buffer state between India and China.
- Border Dispute
- Nepal had released a new political map that claims Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand as part of Nepal’s territory.
- The area of Susta (West Champaran district, Bihar) can also be noted in the new map.
Way Ahead:
- Power trade agreement needs to be such that India can build trust in Nepal.
- Time to undertake a complete rethink as the sales of goods and payments moves through electronic platforms, can provide many new opportunities for businesses on both sides of the border.
- Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) signed between India and Nepal needs more attention from the Nepali side.
