Mayur MohtaNepal’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit his first official trip to India since taking charge. The visit aimed at resetting bilateral ties after political upheaval in Kathmandu puts key connectivity projects, trade deals, and a sensitive border dispute squarely on the table.
Nepal’s New Government Sends Its Top Diplomat to India
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal touched down in New Delhi on June 5 kicking off a high-stakes three-day diplomatic mission. The visit comes at the invitation of India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. It marks the highest-level official engagement between the two neighbours since Nepal’s dramatic political transformation earlier this year.
Nepal saw sweeping change when Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah was sworn in on March 27. His party the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) swept to power after a landslide win, riding the wave of a historic Gen-Z-led uprising. India moved fast to acknowledge this shift PM Narendra Modi was the first world leader to personally call Shah after his electoral victory.
What’s on the Agenda and Why It Matters
Khanal is set to hold structured talks with EAM Jaishankar in New Delhi. He will also meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and may possibly sit down with PM Modi himself.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the broad scope of the visit: “The two sides will discuss matters of mutual interest, with a view to enhancing cooperation across key areas including trade, investment, connectivity, energy and people-to-people ties.”
Several long-pending projects are expected to dominate discussions the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, the East-West Railway corridor, a planned rail link between Janakpur and Ayodhya, expanded petroleum pipeline infrastructure, and improved trade and transit arrangements.
Nepal Pushes for Air Access to Its New Airports
Nepal is also pressing India for additional air entry routes. Kathmandu wants Indian clearance to support international operations at its two newest airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Both facilities have struggled to attract international flights since opening, despite heavy investment.
The Border Dispute Casts a Shadow
The visit arrives amid fresh diplomatic friction. Nepal’s PM Shah made a statement in Parliament on May 31 saying Kathmandu was in touch with China and the UK alongside India to resolve a long-standing border dispute. India responded sharply ruling out any third-party mediation and insisting the matter must be handled through established bilateral channels. Khanal’s meeting with Jaishankar is expected to address this tension directly.
RSP’s Lamichhane Already Broke the Ice With Modi
Just days before Khanal’s visit, RSP chairman Rabi Lamichhane travelled to India at BJP’s invitation. He met PM Modi in New Delhi with Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri all present. During the meeting, Lamichhane reportedly told Modi that the RSP carried no historical political baggage signalling a fresh start in Nepal-India relations.
A Long History of Cooperation Being Refreshed
India has been one of Nepal’s most significant development partners for over seven decades. The relationship dates back to 1951 when India helped construct Kathmandu’s Gauchar Airport. Since then, cooperation has expanded into agriculture, education, health, energy, digital connectivity, and cultural heritage. Khanal’s visit is positioned to build on this foundation and carry it into a new political era.
He is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on June 7.
Aditya Didwaniya
Akshay Didwaniya
