Indian diplomats here admit India’s attention toward Nepal is on an upward trajectory
KATHMANDU, DEC 31 -
As India readies to take up its non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council from next year, it has made a conscious decision to focus on its neighbourhood, especially Nepal and Bangladesh. Indian diplomats in Kathmandu won’t call it a policy shift, but maintain that India’s attention toward Nepal is on an upward trajectory.
“Top billing will be given to Nepal and Bangladesh, not Pakistan,” reported The Times of India in its Thursday’s online edition.
“With a new ambassador, Jayant Prasad, ready to drive Indian policy in Kathmandu, India will try to push for ‘free and fair’ elections in Nepal — where the Maoists contest elections after disarming, so that nobody has an unfair advantage. That has to be the crux of the political deal in Kathmandu, but it has to be done by the Nepalis themselves,” the paper said.
An Indian diplomat in Kathmandu told the Post that India’s focus on Nepal continues to grow. “This is not a policy shift. On July 4, 2009 President Pratibha Patil had said during her parliamentary address that India will pay more attention to its neighbourhood,” he said.
He said India is worried about the widening trust deficit at the inter-party and intra-party levels among major political forces in Nepal.
Sources say though approached by different shades of opinion in Nepal asking for intervention India continues to hold aloof because active intervention doesn’t make it friends among the Nepalis.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is scheduled to visit Kathmandu soon after Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai visits India next week.
“Bhattarai’s visit will be important, for first-hand assessment of current Maoist thinking,” the report further said.
“Bhattarai’s trip to India next week is confirmed and he will meet top Indian leaders,” said Bhattarai’s aide Bishwadeep Pandey. He added that Bhattarai’s India trip is in line with the party decision. Bhattarai will be accompanied by Deputy Commander of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army Barshaman Pun in Nepal Seminar organised by Vivekananda Foundation in New Delhi. The programme, scheduled to be jointly addressed by Indian and Nepali foreign ministers, will see a convergence of Nepali and Indian politicians, academics, former diplomats and experts. CPN-UML leader KP Oli, Pradeep Gyawali, NC leader Prakash Man Singh, Pradeep Giri, former Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katwal are among those scheduled to attend the seminar
As India readies to take up its non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council from next year, it has made a conscious decision to focus on its neighbourhood, especially Nepal and Bangladesh. Indian diplomats in Kathmandu won’t call it a policy shift, but maintain that India’s attention toward Nepal is on an upward trajectory.
“Top billing will be given to Nepal and Bangladesh, not Pakistan,” reported The Times of India in its Thursday’s online edition.
“With a new ambassador, Jayant Prasad, ready to drive Indian policy in Kathmandu, India will try to push for ‘free and fair’ elections in Nepal — where the Maoists contest elections after disarming, so that nobody has an unfair advantage. That has to be the crux of the political deal in Kathmandu, but it has to be done by the Nepalis themselves,” the paper said.
An Indian diplomat in Kathmandu told the Post that India’s focus on Nepal continues to grow. “This is not a policy shift. On July 4, 2009 President Pratibha Patil had said during her parliamentary address that India will pay more attention to its neighbourhood,” he said.
He said India is worried about the widening trust deficit at the inter-party and intra-party levels among major political forces in Nepal.
Sources say though approached by different shades of opinion in Nepal asking for intervention India continues to hold aloof because active intervention doesn’t make it friends among the Nepalis.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is scheduled to visit Kathmandu soon after Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai visits India next week.
“Bhattarai’s visit will be important, for first-hand assessment of current Maoist thinking,” the report further said.
“Bhattarai’s trip to India next week is confirmed and he will meet top Indian leaders,” said Bhattarai’s aide Bishwadeep Pandey. He added that Bhattarai’s India trip is in line with the party decision. Bhattarai will be accompanied by Deputy Commander of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army Barshaman Pun in Nepal Seminar organised by Vivekananda Foundation in New Delhi. The programme, scheduled to be jointly addressed by Indian and Nepali foreign ministers, will see a convergence of Nepali and Indian politicians, academics, former diplomats and experts. CPN-UML leader KP Oli, Pradeep Gyawali, NC leader Prakash Man Singh, Pradeep Giri, former Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katwal are among those scheduled to attend the seminar
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