PM KP Oli’s visit reinforced India’s position as key player in Nepal

NEW DELHI: Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli’s visit helped reinforce India’s position as a key player in the Himalayan country and build mutual confidence, China’s offer to link Nepal with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) notwithstanding, said people aware of the matter.

The three-day visit provided an opportunity to narrow down differences that had cropped up between the two countries over the past few years and it led to fast-tracking of pending infrastructure projects and newly announced initiatives that will help Nepal cope with its double landlocked situation, the people said on condition of anonymity.

“Oli’s visit to India, his first trip abroad since he was re-elected as PM, was extremely useful as it built upon the visit by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj after the election results. It was a forward-looking visit that set the tone for partnership in development,” said one of the persons.


India consciously offered Nepal initiatives for faster connectivity to sea via inland waterways when Oli met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on Saturday, the person said. Similarly, he said, cross-border railway connectivity will offer Nepali citizens, who have close links in India, a smooth travel option.

China is attempting to link Nepal with BRI but India’s advantage lies in the fact that Nepal shares more wide-ranging people-to-people contacts with India than with any other country, said an expert, who did not wish to be identified.