NEW DELHI: India is unlikely to hold boundary talks with Nepal until Nepal amends the unilateral step by the
Oli government
of changing its map to include areas which India claims as its own. This was a message given to Nepalese foreign minister
Pradeep Gyawali
during his meetings with the Indian government this week.
“Nepal wants the bilateral relationship to go on as if nothing has happened. That cannot happen,” said government sources.
India would engage Nepal on development, connectivity, trade and other issues, but it would not be business as usual, they said. However, Gyawali’s visit was an indication that the bilateral relationship was back on track after last year’s turmoil. India took a much more accommodative stance on Covid vaccines, promising to send the first lot in a matter of weeks.
