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girijawaving[1].gif Will Mr Koirala's visit bring about a thaw in relations between the two countries? Hopes run high in Kathmandu. Analyists, however, are not very hopeful as far as cutting new deals with the southern behemoth. A Newslook report

Safal? Asafal?
• End of confusion, TRN Editorial, 09 Aug. '00
• Assessing PM's India visiT, by Mohan Lohani, 09 Aug. '00
• PM’s visit : A missed opportunity, by Achute Wagley, KOL, 07 Aug, '00
• Koirala faces discontent in ruling party, TOI, 08 Aug. '00
• Visit has ended confusion with India, says Koirala, TRN, 07 Aug. '00
• Nepal PM returns from India trip "fully satisfied", AFP, 06 Aug. '00
• PM claims confusion cleared between Nepal-India, KOL, 06 Aug, '00

• Joint Press Statement (August 03, 2000)
• CII Luncheon Address by PM Koirala, New Delhi, 02 August, '00
• PM Koirala's Speech, 01 August '00
• PM Koirala's Toast Proposal, 01 August '00

KATHMANDU: Premier Girija Prasad Koirala is on a state visit of India starting Monday, 31 July. He will address a series of bilateral issues with his counterpart Mr Atal Behari Bajpaye in New Delhi during his week-long visit there.

Although Koirala has already cautioned the public not to expect much from his visit, he said in an interview with Nepali Times newspaper that he will discuss all issues with the southern neighbor. There are a number of throny issues with India that need prompt resolve.

Leaders from the major political parties -- including the main opposition Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist and Leninist (NCP-UML) and the right-wing National Democratic Party (NDP) -- have already made it clear that Koirala's visit should address key border and security issues.

India's Cold War era-like posture on matters of cross-border security, especially following last December's hijack of an Indian airlines from Kathmandu, have added on the frosty relations between the two countries. India has repeatedly voiced its concern regarding anti-India elements allegedly operating freely inside Nepal.

Will Mr Koirala's visit bring about a thaw in relations between the two countries? Hopes run high in Kathmandu. And, if Indian newsmedia are any indication, it could be said that India is willing to some extent mend the broken fense. Anlysists, however, are not very hopeful as far as cutting new deals with the southern behemoth.

According to foreign affairs columnist M R Josse, Koirala's task is an unenviable one. "On the one hand, virtually the entire political class here is gravely concerned and apprehensive he might sell Nepal short in Delhi. On the other, as every Nepali politician - and monarch, too, for that matter - knows, there is all too often a very high price to be paid for not being accommodating enough to India's gameplan in Nepal," he writes in the People's Review newspaper.

Koirala, who has embarked on Bharat Vrahman despite his promise some years ago that he would not visit India unless Kalapani, a Nepali territory occupied by Indian troops for more than 40 years was returned, has been lambasted by media reports for this imcompatibility in his words and deeds. Charged as Bharatmukhi, pro-India, Koirala has been criticised for his introducing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill-1999 (2056 BS), which, analysts say is a ticket to Nepali citizenship certificates to four million Indians living in Nepal. Indian media reports have indirecly hailed this move

Now that Mr Koirala is in India, all eyes are set on him. There is little doubt that India will push forward its security agenda and perhaps new proposals for water projects.India's hegemonic interests in maintaining its sphere of influence in South Asia relate mostly to security issues, as shaped by its relations with Pakistan.

Major Issues In Nepal-India Relations

1950 Treaty: The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship is described as "unequal". Experts say it gives India excess political and economic leverage over Nepal.

Bhutanese Refugees: More than 90,000 ethnic Nepali refugees, who fled southern Bhutan in the early 1990s live in camps in eastern Nepal. India's role is importat in resolving this crisis since it looks after Bhutan's foreign affairs.

Kalapani: India has been stationing its security guards at Kalapani in Nepal's northwest. Indian troops remain at Tinker Pass in Nepal, 446 kilometres (278 miles) north west of here, ever since the Sino-India war in 1962.

Maoists based in India: Nepal is concerned with the alleged anti-establishment activities of alleged Nepalese maoist rebels based in Gorakhpur, northern India.The underground Nepal Communist Party-Maoist (NCP-M) has been waging a bloody "people's war" since 1996. More than 1,300 people have been killed.

Laxmanpur dam: India's Laxmanpur dam built in 1998 in Uttar Pradesh bordering Nepal, has flooded 62 villages and affected thousands of Nepalese living in the Banke district, to the southwest of the Rapti River.

Tanakpur dam project: Experts say India benefits more than Nepal from the development of the multi-million dollar Indo-Nepal Tanakpur dam project in Mhakali of far western Nepal.

Security of Nepalis in India: An estimated 6 million Nepalis live in India. Nepalis living in North Eastern India have become victims of groups who hate 'foreigners.' Scores of Nepalis have ben killed over the years.

For the Nepali side, renewal or abrogation of the of Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, Kalapani, Laxmanpur Dam, border demarcation, Bhutanese refugees, the Maoists' use of Indian soil as a base to launch guerilla activities in western Nepal, are the issues that need to be resolved promptly. Other major issues inlcude water sharing projects-- a lucrative area of investment for India, and of course, an industry which can have a huge consumer following in India, if only a small fraction of the plus 83,000 megawatts of hydro-power could be exploited.

Nepal's and Nepalis' security is another issue. Also, Koirala has to raise the issue of Nepalis living in India. In the last few months Nepalis living in North East India, and from Assam have become victims of violent seperatist groups.

Koirala's planned vist to India's Sillicon Valley will hopefully help in technology transfer. This is a good opportunity to talk business with India for IT development of Nepal.Globalization and free trade are the mantras of our day, and India's recent decision to levy four per cent additional duty on goods going into India, however, points to the contrary. Besides, economic cooperation, Premier Koirala will have to address this issue as well.