- India confirms an invitation was sent, but Nepal’s Foreign Ministry claims no formal communication has been received through official diplomatic channels.
- Prime Minister Shah is reportedly bypassing institutional channels, using personal advisers for direct outreach to Indian officials instead of the Foreign Ministry.
- The delay and reports of postponed high-level meetings highlight potential diplomatic friction and a shift toward centralized foreign policy in Nepal.
- Traditionally the first destination for Nepali leaders, the uncertainty surrounding this visit signals a possible evolution in Nepal-India strategic relations.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Uncertainty continues to surround Prime Minister Balen Shah's proposed official visit to India despite New Delhi's public confirmation that an invitation has been extended. The absence of a confirmed schedule, coupled with differing interpretations from Kathmandu and New Delhi, has raised questions about diplomatic coordination and Nepal's evolving foreign policy approach.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, recently confirmed that Prime Minister Shah had been invited to visit India but did not disclose any timeline. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, maintains that no new formal invitation has been received through diplomatic channels beyond Prime Minister Narendra Modi's congratulatory invitation following Shah's appointment.
The contrasting narratives have fueled speculation over whether the delay is merely procedural or reflects deeper political and diplomatic considerations. Sources indicate that Prime Minister Shah prefers to undertake the visit only after receiving a formal invitation through established diplomatic channels, despite earlier statements by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal that Nepal had already accepted the invitation in principle.
The uncertainty has been compounded by reports that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's planned visit to Kathmandu was postponed following disagreements over high-level engagements, although neither government has officially confirmed these claims.
Adding to the speculation, Prime Minister Shah has increasingly relied on his own advisers for diplomatic outreach, including dispatching Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar to New Delhi to meet with senior Indian officials without the formal involvement of Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomats say such an approach may indicate greater centralization of foreign policy within the Prime Minister's Office, potentially limiting institutional coordination.
While delays in arranging high-level visits are not unusual, analysts say the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Prime Minister Shah's first bilateral visit to India is diplomatically significant. Traditionally, India has been the first official foreign destination for newly appointed Nepali prime ministers, making the continued ambiguity a subject of political and strategic interest.
Until both governments jointly announce the visit, the issue is likely to remain under close scrutiny as an indicator of Nepal's diplomatic priorities and the future trajectory of Nepal-India relations.
