NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Hoping For Thaw To Set In

Will the visit of Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola warm up the Nepal-India relation that has chilled down in recent times?

By KESHAB POUDEL

Following the dramatic hijacking of New Delhi-bound IC 814 flight in December, relations between Nepal and India have been plummeting as the South Asian giant India is yet to lift its air embargo against its smaller neighbor.

Along with the issue of suspension of Indian Airlines flights to Nepal, Kalapani border dispute, Bhutanese refugees, Pancheswor DPR preparation and additional duties recently levied to Nepalese goods are some of the irritants in the Nepal-India relations.

In the trade front the situation is abnormal following the imposition of additional duties on raw materials and Nepalese goods exported to India. Nepalese industrialists allege the decision is against the spirit of Nepal-India trade agreement of 1996.

Indian FM Singh (left) and Bastola : Chilled Relations

In such a chilled environment, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola is visiting India soon with an one point agenda of quiet diplomacy. "The timing of the visit is very crucial," Dr Dhruba Kumar, a political science professor at Tribhuwan University, told Deshantar weekly.

This visit is said to have been arranged to prepare ground work for the proposed visit by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala probably in June.

When India is pushing its own point security agenda, it is not easy for Bastola to accept their proposal. In 1990, Indian statesmen weakened Nepalese monarchy - one of its traditional ally, and now it is twisting the arms of its another reliable friend — the Nepali Congress.

Sandwiched between India and China, tilt of Nepalese foreign policy to any one of its neighbor could have far-reaching consequences.

"Nepal and India both have open and democratic government. Thus, both countries should exercise in open diplomacy," said a political analyst.

Even Tajendra Khanna, former Commerce Secretary Govt. of India who was recently in Kathmandu for some lecture talks has said that the decision is against the spirit of Nepal-India Trade Treaty of 1996. "If I were still Commerce Secretary I would request the Finance Ministry to lift that tax," he said.

On security matters, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola has been very cautious to say anything. It seems India, however, is insisting that the security issue be solved before taking up any other issue with Nepal.

Indian officials and media have often accused Nepal for giving a Nelson's eye to Pakistani intelligence agency ISI agents who, they say, are using Nepalese soil against Indian interest.

Nepalese officials, however, have vigorously asserted that Nepal has never allowed her territory to be used by anybody against any of its neighbors. "Security of each and every country is the foremost agenda in the foreign policy of that country. So, we need to look into each other's interests, concerns and sensibilities," said Bastola. (see Spotlight March 31). "We need to have the will and confidence of each other that they can be resolved through bilateral interactions."

Nepal, however, has not been able to convince the South Block mandarins about her Bona Fide in maintaining proper security at TIA. Even though a score of airlines do not find any fault with Nepali security system, that does not seem strong enough ground to convince the Indian authorities.

Although Nepalese foreign minister Bastola is said to be busy in quiet diplomacy, diplomatic watchers here have yet to see any positive signal from India.

After the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepalese politicians had thought that relations between Nepal and India would not cool down in such a manner. But recent events have belied their expectations.