China Nepal India Triangle

For ages, India has had a close and unique relationship with Nepal. Across the open border between the two countries millions of people travel to each other s country for their livelihood, for pleasure and social contacts. The border for all practical purposes does not exist and there is nor hassle of passports and visas, almost unparalleled anywhere in the world. Yet the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries have not been uniformly good. India s ties with the two close neighbnours, Nepal and China, and their inter-relationship form the subject of this book. To a substantial extent, Chinese foreign policy has influenced the course of Nepal s relations with India. A triangle is thus formed which is explored here in the context of treaties and agreements. Nepal is the focus of the book but India s relations with China are also examined in depth. The relevant treaties are reproduced for ready reference. India s ties with her neighbours have been close and special importance is attached to them in the framing and conduct of foreign policy. But the experience has not been uniformly happy. The problems encountered in the Indian policy towards Nepal and China have been discussed here in detail.

In many ways, the Indian leg of the trip was an attempt to wipe clean the bitterness that has characterised his party’s relations with India. After being the first PM of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Prachanda chose to visit China, which is quite contrary to the normal tradition of any previous head of government. Subsequently, the incident of sacking and then reinstating the former Chief of Army Staff, Rookmangud Katwal, soured relations with India, at its height. However, since then, Prachanda has realised that Nepal’s geostrategic position is such that it requires the cooperation of both its northern as well as southern neighbour to spur its economic progress, and to maintain its sovereignty. The trilateral cooperation is a means to achieve that end.