By Kaveesha Fernando
NEW DELHI, India (CWBN)_ It appears that Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s two-day visit to Nepal has already borne fruit as the two sides appear to have agreed to resolve their border dispute through discussions. Today is the final day of the Foreign Secretary’s visit.
The Indian Foreign Secretary met the President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, and Foreign Minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, during his visit, which was also his first visit to Nepal since assuming office in January.
Both sides seem to be in agreement regarding the resolution achieved as a result of the discussions. “They also discussed the boundary matters and exchanged views on completing the boundary work in the remaining segments,” statements released by both the Indian Embassy in Nepal and the Nepal Foreign Ministry revealed.
While initially reported as a “courtesy” visit not meant to discuss the border dispute, it has since been reported that PM Oli had insisted that the issue be discussed.
Manoj Mukund Naravane, a General in the Indian Army, angered Nepal with his comments in May that Nepal was protesting a road being built by India (claiming it encroached upon Nepali territory) “at someone else’s behest” – a thinly veiled hint at China’s attempts to drag neighbouring countries into the Indo-Sino border dispute.
Nepal amended its Constitution to adopt a map which included Indian territories, also in May. They responded to Indian protest by making reference to an Indian map which they claimed included Nepali territory.
Apart from the border dispute, further strengthening trade relations and joint efforts to allay the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were also discussed.
Edited by Chathushka Perera
