- Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to make his first official visit to India in November to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.
- Discussions will focus on infrastructure, cross-border connectivity, energy trade, and additional Indian assistance for Nepal's post-flood recovery and reconstruction efforts.
- Both nations are preparing for the potential joint inauguration of the Nepal Police Academy and several key cross-border infrastructure projects.
- High-level diplomatic delegations are coordinating to finalize agreements and the official program before the prime minister’s scheduled departure for New Delhi.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal and India have stepped up preparations for Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s planned visit to India in November.
The exact date has not been announced yet, but officials at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the two sides have started working on the visit in earnest. The visit will be Shah’s first official trip to India as prime minister.
A joint secretary at the Foreign Ministry said preparations for high-level visits between Nepal and India are normally carried out through regular diplomatic channels. However, the work has increased after Shah agreed to visit India.
“Since the prime minister is now set to visit India, preparations have been intensified,” the official said.
The two governments are now reviewing agreements and projects that have been discussed or agreed upon in recent years. Infrastructure, connectivity and development projects are expected to be among the main issues during the visit.
Officials are also discussing whether India can provide additional assistance to Nepal following the damage caused by floods in the Bhotekoshi area.
India has already helped Nepal with rescue, relief and search operations after the disaster. Discussions are now taking place on what further support could be provided for recovery and reconstruction.
“Discussions are underway on what additional assistance India could provide,” the official said.
Projects may be jointly inaugurated
The two sides are also preparing for the possible inauguration of several projects built with Indian assistance.
According to officials at the Foreign Ministry, the Nepal Police Academy, the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Bhairahawa and a bridge over the Mahakali River in Darchula are among the projects being considered for joint inauguration.
The plan is to have the prime ministers of Nepal and India jointly inaugurate some of these projects during Shah’s visit, although the final program has not yet been confirmed.
Nepali officials are coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on the preparations. Documents and other details related to the visit are also being exchanged between the two sides.
The projects are part of India’s development assistance to Nepal and also have a direct link to connectivity and the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Infrastructure and connectivity on the agenda
Infrastructure is expected to receive considerable attention during Shah’s talks in India.
Nepal and India have several projects related to roads, bridges, border facilities and cross-border connectivity. Some projects have moved ahead, while others have faced delays in implementation.
Nepali officials have started reviewing these projects before the prime minister’s visit. The government is also looking at agreements reached between the two countries to determine which issues need to be raised at the political level.
The Bhairahawa ICP and the Mahakali bridge are particularly relevant to Nepal’s cross-border connectivity.
Energy cooperation is also an important part of the Nepal–India relationship. Nepal has been increasing electricity exports to India and has sought greater access to the Indian market as hydropower production grows.
The two countries have also been working on cross-border transmission lines and other infrastructure needed for electricity trade.
These issues could also come up during the prime minister’s meetings in New Delhi.
More official visits expected before Shah’s trip
Nepal is preparing to send a senior delegation to India before Shah’s visit to discuss the details of the program.
A foreign ministry official said the delegation could be led by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal or another senior government official.
An Indian delegation is also expected to visit Nepal as part of the preparations.
Such visits are intended to finalize the issues to be discussed by the two prime ministers and settle the details of the visit.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri confirmed that preparations for Shah’s India visit are underway.
He said the visit would be arranged at a time convenient for both sides, but the date had not yet been finalized.
Wagle’s India visit
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle recently returned from a two-day visit to India. Shah’s India visit was confirmed after Wagle returned to Nepal.
Talks about Shah visiting India had been taking place for some time, but the two sides had not agreed on a date.
Wagle’s visit provided an opportunity for discussions on economic and development issues between the two countries.
With Shah now preparing to travel to India, those discussions are expected to continue at the political level.
Foreign ministers also discuss the visit
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently met in the United States on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The two ministers discussed bilateral issues during the meeting. According to officials at Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, Shah’s planned India visit was also discussed.
The meeting came as preparations for the prime minister’s visit were gaining pace.
How the visit was delayed
Shah received an invitation to visit India soon after becoming prime minister in Chaitra 2082.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited him during a telephone conversation in which Modi congratulated Shah on his appointment. A formal written invitation was sent later.
Although Shah accepted the invitation, he initially said he would not travel abroad during his first year as prime minister. As a result, there was uncertainty about when he would make his first official visit to India.
India continued to raise the matter through diplomatic channels.
During this period, the Bharatiya Janata Party invited Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane to India. Lamichhane met Modi and other senior Indian officials during his visit and received considerable attention in India.
After Lamichhane returned to Nepal, efforts to arrange Shah’s visit continued.
The issue was also discussed during the visit of the Indian Army chief to Nepal, who met Prime Minister Shah. The possibility of Shah visiting India was reportedly raised during the meeting.
Nepali officials also discussed the visit during their trips to India, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs continued to convey its invitation to Shah.
First India visit as prime minister
After several months of discussions, Shah has now agreed to visit India in November. The formal announcement of the date is still pending.
The visit will give the two governments an opportunity to discuss ongoing projects as well as issues affecting the wider Nepal–India relationship.
For Nepal, infrastructure, cross-border connectivity, electricity trade, development assistance and additional support for disaster recovery are likely to be important issues.
For India, the visit will provide an opportunity to engage directly with Nepal’s new prime minister and discuss the future of bilateral cooperation.
The final agenda will become clearer once the date of the visit is formally announced and officials from both sides complete their consultations.
