Today’s extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal, dubbed “Prachanda,” focused on advancing India-Nepal cooperation in a number of areas, including energy, connectivity, and trade.
The four-day visit to India by the prime minister of Nepal got underway on Wednesday.
The 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) leader is making his first bilateral travel abroad since taking power in December 2022.
According to those familiar with Prime Minister Prachanda’s travel to India, a key topic of discussion between PM Modi and PM Prachanda will be strengthening cooperation in the areas of connectivity, economy, energy, and infrastructure.
In terms of India’s general strategic interests in the area, Nepal is significant, and the leaders of the two nations have frequently discussed their long-standing “Roti-Beti” relationship, which refers to cross-border marriages between citizens of the two nations.
With five Indian states — Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand — the nation has a border of more than 1,850 kilometres.
Land-locked India is a major source of transportation for products and services in Nepal.
India provides Nepal with access to the sea, and Nepal imports a large amount of its needs from and through India.
The foundation of the unique ties between the two nations is the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Foreign Minister of Nepal NP Saud, who is a member of Prime Minister Prachanda’s team, stated on Wednesday that the bilateral discussions will cover a wide variety of topics, including commerce, transit, connectivity, and border concerns.
