Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah Engages with Indian Ambassador in Historic Meeting

Significant Diplomatic Engagement

Kathmandu, Aug 10: On Monday, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah conducted his inaugural one-on-one meeting with a foreign diplomat, Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava, since taking office on March 27.

This meeting signifies a shift from his previous stance of avoiding individual interactions with foreign ambassadors.

Traditionally, Prime Ministers in Nepal have provided foreign diplomats with straightforward access, a practice that faced criticism from both the media and the public.

Since his appointment, Shah has aimed to alter this norm by limiting personal meetings with foreign diplomats, although he has participated in group discussions.

The Prime Minister's Secretariat confirmed that the meeting took place at Shah's office in Singha Durbar.

During their discussion, both parties addressed various topics concerning the bilateral relationship between Nepal and India, including mutual interests and development cooperation.

Ambassador Srivastava congratulated Shah and reiterated his commitment to enhancing the collaborative relationship between the two nations.

Shah highlighted the importance of strengthening Nepal's historical ties with India and collaborating in areas of mutual interest.

Additionally, Shah is expected to meet with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming later on the same day, with a meeting scheduled with the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Scott Urbom, for Tuesday, as per sources from the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

This decision to engage with ambassadors from both neighboring countries on the same day suggests that Nepal values its relationships with both nations equally.

The meeting with the Indian ambassador marks the first individual courtesy call between Shah and a foreign ambassador in Kathmandu since he assumed office over four months ago.

Previously, Shah opted for joint meetings with ambassadors on April 9 and May 26 instead of individual engagements.

Many Nepali diplomats and foreign policy experts have welcomed his collective approach to meetings, viewing it as a more transparent and fair method of diplomatic interaction.

However, this policy has been perceived as challenging to maintain as Shah seeks to broaden Nepal's international relations.

Shah had previously deviated from his policy of avoiding foreign dignitaries when he met with Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda during his visit to Nepal in early July.

Requests from the US Embassy for meetings with various officials, including US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Samir Paul Kapur, were declined by Shah.

Additionally, the planned visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Kathmandu in early May was reportedly postponed after Shah refused to meet him.

Some analysts argue that a blanket refusal to engage with foreign diplomats may not align with Nepal's national interests.

Arun Sebudi, a foreign policy analyst, stated that diplomatic protocols should not hinder meetings with representatives from strategically significant countries or institutions.