The border dispute between India and Nepal which erupted on the beginning of this year locked both the Himalayan neighbours in an assertive cartographic and diplomatic battle. Tensions started simmering ever since Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80 km road to ease the journey of pilgrims reaching Kailash-Manasarowar in Tibet on May. And further escalated by Nepal’s new political map which includes the disputed land Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani.

The amicable relations between the countries traces back to the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Hostilities related to border disputes have erupted even earlier and have been solved through negotiations. However, the recent past is suggestive of a thaw in bilateral Relations. Ever since Nepal accused India of enforcing a trade blockade (2015) and the release of a new political map of India following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, a severe paradigm shift has emerged in bilateral ties.

While already grappling with a pandemic and severe impacts on the fiscal front, none of these countries are in a position to engage in a scuffle. Amid frosty bilateral ties, both governments are trying to overcome the differences as indicated by recent high level visits of Samanta Kumar Goel, Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's foreign intelligence service and Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane. Furthermore, Indian Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay official visit to Kathmandu later this month for a formal dialogue with his counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal. According to the government officials the Indian Foreign secretary’s visit will also prepare the groundwork for the next Nepal India Joint Commission meeting which expected to take place next month. Nepali Foreign Minister is also expected to visit India soon with aim of resolving border disputes and stabilizing bilateral ties.

Stretching the issue further is in the interest of neither nation. Therefore, a legitimate way forward seems to abandon any assertive approach and rather resolve disputes amicably through dialogue and negotiations.

The primary aim of this webinar is to review the Chief of Indian Army’s visit to Nepal, to analyze the significance of the upcoming Indian Foreign secretary’s visit to Nepal and to examine the future course of Indo-Nepal relations especially economic and political. The webinar is jointly organized by Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).