In first one-on-one with a foreign diplomat, Nepal PM Balen Shah meets Indian envoy

Five months after Nepalese Prime Minister Balen Shah took office, he met Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava on Monday for their first one-on-one bilateral meeting in Kathmandu. The discussion centered on bolstering Nepal-India relations, fostering bilateral cooperation, and expanding development partnerships to mutual benefit. This marks a change from Shah's previous stance of only meeting heads of state and government, not officials at a lower rank.

Following the meeting, the Nepal Prime Minister's Office announced on X, "Ambassador of India to Nepal Naveen Srivastava paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Balendra Shah at Singhadurbar today." Srivastava expressed his delight, stating, "Honoured to call on Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal this morning. Conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Modi ji. Had an engaging & productive exchange of views on further deepening robust, multi-faceted India-Nepal partnership."

Srivastava previously met Shah in a group call with ambassadors of several nations just after Shah's inauguration in March. However, a planned visit from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in May was postponed as Shah indicated he wouldn't be making any foreign trips during the first 100 days of his term. Shah had also declined meetings with visiting US Ambassador Sergio Gor and US Special Envoy on South and Central Asia.

The relationship between Nepal and India has been tested by Shah's objections to India and China's plans for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh pass. India has dismissed these claims as "neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence" and remains open to "constructive interaction" with Nepal. Nonetheless, they have engaged on issues like water resources, power transmission, and developmental projects.

After Shah's swearing-in on March 27, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him through X, expressing his wish to work closely with Shah to strengthen India-Nepal friendship and deepen cooperation for mutual benefit. This gesture aimed to mend ties strained by years of tension under Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's leadership.