Image Source: DD News
India and Nepal on Thursday inked a slew of powerful agreements through ‘comprehensive and productive meeting’ organised by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with his Nepalese counterpart NP Saud and discussed diverse aspects of bilateral ties including trade, hydroelectricity, power, connectivity projects and cooperation. Besides, defence and security are prioritised in this discussion.
7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting:
S Jaishankar reached Nepal for the first time to visit to a foreign country in 2024 to join the meeting with NP Saud. Following the route of ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ India is keen on reinforcing shared values and ethos of India and Nepal. Subsequently, China’s dominancy over India’s neighbourhood country leading distrust and regressive attitude towards India. In a bid to minimise the Chinese influence India has been trying her best to resume a powerful bond among neighbour countries through bilateral and multilateral pacts.
Key subject-matter:
The joint meeting highlighted quintessential matters particularly; trade-economic relations, land, rail & air connectivity projects, co-operation in defence & security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people & cultural exchange and development partnership.
Power Pact:
Both sides signed an agreement based on power export that will enable the export of 10,000 MW electricity from Nepal to India in the next 10 years. Nepal is a home of abundant water resources and provides ample scope to hydroelectricity projects. India and Nepal had inked agreements on power exchange during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s visit to India from May 31 to June 3, 2023.
Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development were also emphasised in order to reduce carbon emission and to match Zero Emission target by 2047. In line with this, an MoU for cooperation in Renewable Energy Development between NTPC Ltd. Of India and Nepal Electricity Authority was also endorsed.
High Impact Community Development Projects:
Apart from power agreements ‘High Impact Community Development Projects’ was signed to boost up common ethnic and religious ties between the states. Construction of school building, educational infrastructure, communication and transportation are few areas under High Impact community Development Projects.
Both countries signed the Launch Service Agreement for the Munal satellite developed by the Nepal Academy of science and technology (NAST). Meanwhile, India announced to offer worth of 10billion USD grant assistance to Nepal for the rejuvenation of earthquake affected areas.
External Affair Minister also observed the passing fifth tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake aid-assistance to Nepal. Nepal faced a massive earthquake in the Jajarkot region of Western Nepal on November, 2023 leading loss of 154 lives and damage of hundreds of house & property.
Reaffirming shared goals: The Himalayan state is deeply connected to India in terms of culture, language, religion and geographical proximity. In the context of India, Nepal plays a pivotal role in strengthening India’s foreign policy towards neighbourhood countries. Leaders of two countries have often witnessed in supporting ‘Roti-Beti’ relationship between India and Nepal
Because of China’s pressure many times Nepal tends to shift its equation with India and it impacts not only India’s relationship with Nepal but India’s strategical points too. Therefore, to minimise Chinese influence India must continue the legacy of ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’
