Mumbai, May 31: Rabi Lamichhane, the president of Nepal’s ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is set to embark on a two-day visit to India from June 1 to June 2. This visit comes at a time of uncertainty regarding Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s potential trip to India.
According to party spokesperson Manish Jha, Lamichhane has received an invitation from Nitin Nabin, the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to visit New Delhi.
During his visit, he is expected to meet with several key leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Jha mentioned that detailed information regarding the visit will be released on Monday. In recent years, the BJP has prioritized relationships not only with states and governments but also with political parties, leading to several visits by Nepalese leaders to India at the BJP’s invitation.
However, neither the Indian nor the Nepalese side has officially confirmed this visit yet. The RSP, which holds a two-thirds majority in Nepal’s House of Representatives, is perceived as a “Gen-Z supported” government. Party leaders assert that the visit by the ruling party’s chief should be viewed as a standard diplomatic process.
This visit occurs amidst some tension in relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi. Disputes over border issues, trade regulations, and export-related matters have heightened differences between the two nations.
Earlier in May, Nepal expressed strong opposition to both India and China by sending a note of dissent after both neighboring countries announced that Indian pilgrims would travel to the disputed Lipulekh area for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage without Nepal’s permission. Both Nepal and India claim sovereignty over the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura regions, which are currently under India’s effective control.
India has also indirectly expressed concern over Nepal’s stringent policy, which strictly enforces customs duties on goods valued over 100 rupees brought from India. Although this rule is not new, its strict implementation has impacted cross-border trade, leading to periodic protests from Indian traders.
The Nepalese government claims that this measure was taken to curb smuggling. Currently, this rule is not being enforced due to an interim order from Nepal’s Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, India has imposed mandatory lab testing for every batch of tea coming from Nepal, negatively affecting Nepal’s tea exports. The Indian government later amended this rule, making testing mandatory only for tea re-exported to third countries via India, while exempting tea meant for domestic use.
These developments have highlighted the existing tensions in relations between the two countries. Concerns have also risen following the sudden cancellation of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s proposed visit to Nepal on May 11.
Despite this, Prime Minister Modi has formally invited Nepal’s Prime Minister Dahal to visit India. A senior RSP leader stated that Dahal does not wish to undertake any foreign trips until he completes at least 100 days in office, having been appointed Prime Minister on March 27.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry previously stated that Dahal’s trip to Delhi would occur after bureaucratic discussions on several pending bilateral issues, ensuring that the visit would be meaningful.
Lok Raj Baral, a former ambassador of Nepal to India, indicated that it is natural for India to desire good relations with the party that has secured a significant mandate in Nepal. He noted, “Lamichhane’s visit could provide an opportunity to build political understanding between both sides, although some challenging bilateral issues may remain unresolved.”
The border dispute has long been a significant issue in bilateral relations. Nationalistic perspectives have occasionally strained ties, and trade-related issues have also been a source of tension. According to Baral, such minor tensions should be considered natural between neighboring countries.
As the RSP is a relatively new political party established in 2022, questions arise about how its leadership will advance Nepal’s foreign policy. Prime Minister Dahal has repeatedly stated that his government will not deviate from Nepal’s traditional foreign policy, indicating that it will maintain relations based on the principle of equal distance from all countries.
He has not yet held separate meetings with foreign diplomats, although his ministers have met with them individually. Dahal has also adhered to strict protocols during meetings with foreign guests. In April, he did not meet with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, or the U.S. ambassador to India. A week prior, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Samir Paul Kapoor, also could not meet the Prime Minister.
Reports suggest that Dahal declined to meet with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri before his proposed visit, leading to its cancellation. Baral, who is also a professor of political science at Tribhuvan University, remarked that excessive protocol adherence and the equal distance policy are not practically viable.
He stated, “The decision to meet foreign representatives should be based on national interest, not just protocol. While the equal distance policy may seem attractive in theory, it is challenging in practice, as Nepal’s relationship with India is far more complex than with other countries.”
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