Strains ease ahead of KP Sharma Oli’s visit to India

An unexpected lifting of the nearly six-month-long border blockade with India and back-to-back high-level visits by Indian and Nepalese officials have cleared the decks for the much-awaited visit of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to India beginning February 19.

The two neighbours, ties between whom had witnessed an all-time low following violent protests led by Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, have warmed up to each other since the beginning of this month.

A surprise announcement on Monday by the agitating Madhesis over lifting the blockade of key border trade points with India fulfilled Mr Oli’s condition of embarking on his first trip overseas after assuming charge some four months ago.

The thaw in ties was evident when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj travelled to Nepal for a one-day visit to pay respects to former Prime Mnister Sushil Koirala, who passed away on Tuesday.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Deepak Prasad Adhikary confirmed that Mr Oli will leave Kathmandu for Delhi on February 19 to pay an official visit to India, but did not give any details saying they are yet to be worked out.

The beginning of the trip on February 19 also coincides with National Democracy Day in Nepal, sources close to the Prime Minister said, adding that he will attend the democracy day function in the morning before flying to Delhi.

Invitation to pay an official visit to China was pending and the government was preparing for the prime minister’s visit to both the neighbouring countries, India and China.

However, the Nepalese Prime Minister was waiting for border blockade to be lifted to embark on his much-awaited visit to India.

He had earlier announced that he would not visit India unless the border blockade was lifted.

Nepal alleged that the blockade in its southern border with India was imposed by Indian authorities, who are backing the agitation led by Madhesis - a charge India had vehemently denied. The United Democratic Madhesi Front, the four-party alliance, officially announced withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade.

Front had launched indefinite agitation protesting against the new Constitution promulgated on September 20 last year, saying it failed to address their concerns over representation and homeland.

Nepal had sent high-level delegations to India topersuade the Indian leaders in lifting the blockade as the country was facing acute shortage of essential commodities including petroleum products, cooking gas and medicine.

The landlocked country faced the blockade at a time when it had hardly recovered from the impact of the devastating earthquakes in April and May last year.

The blockade has severely hit the country’s economy, more than the natural disaster did.

Nepal had suffered an estimated USD 7 billion worth damage due to the disaster.

Finance minister Bishnu Poudyal’s recent visit to India has prepared ground for the visit of Oli.

Nepal Army Chief Gen. Rajendra Chhetri had also paid a visit to India last week, during which he was conferred the honorary title of chief of army staff of the Indian army as per tradition.

Earlier, deputy prime minister and foreign minister Kamal Thapa had paid visits to India twice in connection with persuading Indian authorities to lifting the blockade in the country’s southern border, which is causing acute shortage of essentials to the Himalayan nation.

Now with confirmation of Mr Oli’s visit, the bilateral toes are expected to improve and further strengthen, analysts say.

The matter relating to Mr Oli’s upcoming visit to India is reported to have figured during high-level meetings in Kathmandu by Ms Swaraj. During the meeting, Mr Oli told Ms Swaraj that India has always stood by Nepal in its hours of grief.