Table Of ContentNepal’s Foreign Policy and
Her Neighbours
Nepal’s Foreign Policy and
Her Neighbours
Editors
Pramod Jaiswal
Geeta Kochhar
in association with
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
G.B. Books
New Delhi
Nepal’s Foreign Policy and Her Neighbours
Published by
Smt Neelam Batra
G.B. Books
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First published 2016
ISBN: 978-93-83930-51-7
Composing and Printing in India
Dedicated
to
Aahana and Aayan
Foreword
No two countries in the world have a closer relationship at a people to
people level and at the same time, have such a complex relationship at a
government to government level as India and Nepal. Despite such strong
ties of history, geography, culture, language and religion that have translated
into a roti-beti ka rishta among the madhesis as well as the pahadi elite, at
a state to state level, the relationship has witnessed periods of acrimonious
rhetoric which often regenerates deep seated suspicions. Unfortunately,
this has given rise to a narrative of anti-Indianism, disguised as Nepali
nationalism. Successive governments in both countries have ignored it
because it is always a minor irritant in the present when both sides want to
get things done; what has been missed is its long term corrosive impact on
the bilateral relationship. The sane voices that have called for restraint on
rhetoric are often drowned out by the growing cacophony of the 24/7 news
channels that thrive on controversy. Amidst such high decibel exchanges
that create more noise than light, this book is a refreshing change that deals
with the complexity of Nepal’s foreign policy in a changing world. In many
ways, Nepal’s leaders think that Nepal’s world has not changed because
it was Prithvi Narayan Shah who described Nepal as “a yam between
two boulders” and there is a chapter with the same title in this book. The
question is that if the boulders are changing their equation, should the yam
be content to still consider itself a yam? Does the approach adopted by the
Palace from the late 1950’s and used in recent times by leftist leaders like
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and K P S Oli as Prime Ministers reflect
an understanding of the 1960’s or does it reflect the state of India-China
relations today, and more important, does this serve the interests of the
patient and long suffering people of Nepal, who to add to their woes, have
also been battered by the worst earthquake last year after 1934?
This book does well to highlight many aspects of this complex
relationship, exploring the underlying layers and exposing some of the
short sighted policies that both Indian and Nepali political leaders have
adopted in the interests of political expediency. Most important, it reflects
viii • Nepal’s Foreign Policy and Her Neighbours
a very welcome renewed interest in scholarship in India’s neighbourhood
which has suffered in recent decades because most scholars have focussed
on India’s relations with major powers. This book is a modest attempt to
redress the balance.
Rakesh Sood
Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal
Acknowledgements
The book aims to provide the changing dynamics in the foreign policy
of Nepal and its relations with its closest neighbouring states India and
China by understanding the various complexities and contradictions in
their relations. Though the rise of India and China is seen as competing or
even conflicting in nature, Nepal is looked upon as a real buffer between
the two giants. However, Nepal also seems to have its own expectations
and interests in building harmonious ties with the rising powers.
The book consists of twelve chapters by young and most dynamic
scholars from Nepal and India for an in-depth study on Nepal’s Foreign
policy and its relations with its neighbours especially since the restoration
of democracy. It is the outcome of the combined effort of the authors of
various paper incorporated in the book along with my personal contribution
as an editor. Here, we would like to thank all the authors Ashay Abbhi,
Dr. Bawa Singh, Bhoj Raj Poudel, Bibek Chand, Biswas Baral, Dr. Geeta
Kochhar, Gunjan Singh, Dr. Sangit Sarita Dwivedi, Shabaz Hussain Shah,
Dr. Shahnawaz Mantoo, Simi Mehta, Soumya Awasthi and Dr. Vivek
Kumar Srivastava for their timely submission.
We would like to put on record and acknowledge the support of many
scholars in completion of this book. Our special thanks go to Rakesh
Sood, Former Ambassador to Nepal, Dr. Shambhu Ram Simkhada,
Former Diplomat and Foreign Policy Expert from Nepal and Dr. Jaya Raj
Acharya, Former Ambassador of Nepal to the United Nations for their
encouragement and support.
I would also like to thank many other senior scholars and friends who
helped me and guided me in finalising the draft of the book.
Last but not the least; I would like to thank the publisher G.B. Books for
providing all help and support for publishing the book.
