Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli emphasised on Saturday that existing tensions between Nepal and India can be resolved through open dialogue and a spirit of goodwill.
Speaking at the launch of former administrator Surya Nath Upadhyay's book, International Watercourses Law: A Perspective on Nepal-India Cooperation, Oli noted the importance of communication in addressing bilateral issues.
“There exist few problems, not many, between Nepal and India, and they can be resolved, if we maintain warm heart and open dialogue,” Oli said at the event.
He stressed that Nepal and India, as close neighbours with rich cultural ties, must engage in frank discussions.
"India is our friendly neighbour, and Nepal and India have rich cultures, so we should have an open dialogue. The blame cannot be merely imposed on the geopolitical situation for our inability to speak openly. We should not be involved in any game meant for gaining and sustaining power," he added.
Oli also highlighted the need for cooperative approaches in dealing with shared resources.
“There should not be a unilateral approach while working on common resources. It should be done based on consensus and bilateral discussion,” he asserted.
Relations between the two nations soured in 2020 after Nepal published a new political map that included the Indian territories of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh as part of Nepal.
The then Prime Minister Oli leveraged this territorial dispute to fend off rising domestic criticism.
Notably, Oli has previously accused India of meddling in Nepal's internal affairs.
At the book launch, Upadhyay mentioned that Nepal has yet to receive the report from the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) formed by both nations to address bilateral issues.
"The EPG was formed based on consensus between the prime ministers of the two countries to resolve issues between Nepal and India," said the former bureaucrat.
“There was no issue of timing from the Nepali side to receive the report. Maybe the Indian side will arrange an appropriate time for it,” he stated, suggesting that receiving the report could pave the way for discussions on pending issues.
Nepal, a landlocked country, relies heavily on India for the transport of goods and services. Meanwhile, India considers Nepal crucial for its strategic interests in the region.
Both countries frequently refer to their historical “Roti Beti” ties, reflecting cultural and social interconnectedness.
Nepal shares an extensive border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states—Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
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