India Nepal Relations in Shadow of Chinese Influence

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Ranjit Rae [Rtd. IFS, and India’s former ambassador to Hungary (with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Slovenia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina) (20016-10), and then ambassador to Vietnam (2010-13) & was India’s ambassador to Nepal till 2017] about India-Nepal relations, both at a bilateral level and at a regional level. Amb. Rae traces the historical evolution of India-Nepal relations. He highlights the significance of India’s relationship with Nepal, both in terms of deeper historical ties rooted in religion, culture, and tradition and from a strategic point of view. In response to an inquiry by Dr. Jacob on India’s unofficial blockade of Nepal, Amb. Rae argues that India’s policy has been to support a democratic, inclusive Nepal, and at major turning points in Nepal’s history, India has supported what the people of Nepal have wanted. He considers and debates the concern over increasing Chinese involvement in Nepal, and argues that threat to India is exaggerated, and despite legitimate areas of concern, India should seek avenues for tri-partite cooperation involving China & Nepal.