National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Sorting Out Differences

The two countries agree to continue their discussions at the next meeting

By A CORRESSPONDENT

Nepal and India have many commonalities at the cultural, geographical and religious levels, but official relations have taken their own different course.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, the two countries are yet to reach agreements on regulation of passenger traffic and on rail services. The growing realization in both countries on the need for direct transport links has not spurred them into signing the accords.

Officials signing railway agreement : At step forward

"Although the recent round of talks, too, was unable to bring the two countries closer to an agreement, we have narrowed down earlier differences. Possibly, we will be in a position soon to sign the formal agreement with India on operating regular transport service," said Chabi Raj Panta, director-general of Department of Transport Management, and Nepalese team leader to the negotiations. "We want to link our major cities with Indian major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow and others."

Unlike the earlier two rounds, the third meeting lasted for five days. In the Nepal-India Rail Services Agreement, both parties are said to have agreed on a modality for joint operations of the Birgunj Dry Port. "We have made a breakthrough in the talks, but you cannot [expect things to] materialize unless the two parties sign a formal agreement," said a senior official at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply. "Negotiations are always a game of give and take. We have to give something in order to take from the other end."

According to a press release issued by the Embassy of India, the meetings were held from February 8 to 13. Substantial progress was made on the outstanding issues in both the agreements. On the few remaining issues, as the need was felt for consultations with higher authorities on both sides, it was agreed that further discussions would be held through diplomatic channels with a view to finalizing both the agreements at an early date.

"As stated by representatives of both countries, the talks on the Railway Agreement succeeded in arriving at mutually satisfactory arrangements for the operationalization of the ICD at Birganj, Nepal. This includes the management of the terminal, simplified customs procedures and operation of rail services, including the facility of a one-time-lock system.The Railway Agreement has not yet been finalized due to certain legal issues being raised, which require consultations with legal experts on both sides. We are confident that these issues will also be resolved soon in a spirit of friendship and mutual understanding," stated the press release from the Indian Embassy.

"As regards the bilateral Passenger Traffic Agreement, the Embassy of India wishes to clarify that conceding Nepal's position, the Indian side agreed not to include the movement of cargo vehicles in the new agreement. Despite this, some media reports have assumed that cargo vehicles are also part of negotiations.As in the case of the Railway Agreement, here too both sides have succeeded in reaching consensus on a new set of arrangements for the movement of passenger vehicles between the two countries, on a reciprocal basis. It is not true that India has refused a Kathmandu-Patna or Kathmandu-Delhi link as reported in some papers. The Indian side has only explained that these routes will require the approval of state governments concerned in India andn that procedures to obtain such approval is already under way. There are some technical issues which remain to be resolved and efforts are already under way to reach a satisfactory conclusion," the release further states.

Others failed to see any tangible change in the Indian stand. "Unless Indian officials clearly spell out what they want, I don't think anything will change," said a retired Nepalese foreign ministry official. "It is a reality that Nepal cannot survive undermining its giant neighbor India."

In the direct transport link and railway talks, as in other areas, both sides must be candid in their positions. Unless they realize the importance of their commonalities as their strength, there will always be ups and downs in relations.

"Despite some hiccups in the initial rounds of talks, we have made our best to present our point of view in the negotiating table. We are not in a position to give in to some of the demands raised by the Indians," said an official at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce on condition of anonymity.

If the transport agreement is signed during the next round of meetings, following certain understanding at the highest diplomatic level, India and Nepal will finally have regular surface transport links between major cities of both countries - and an opportunity to reinforce their commonalities at the other levels.