Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal said on Thursday that his visit to India was aimed at trust building.

PM Dahal arrived in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon on a four-day state visit.

“The main objective of my visit is trust building,” said PM Dahal while addressing a reception hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi. PM Dahal’s visit to the southern neighbour 45 days after he assumed office is largely seen as part of his efforts to bring Nepal-India relations back on track.

Ties between the two countries soured last year following the promulgation of the constitution, to which New Delhi had made a terse response. Months-long blockade after that made Nepal-India relationship touch the nadir.

“This visit will enhance our bilateral relations,” said PM Dahal.

He also recounted how India was quick to respond and offer help in the aftermath of April 25 earthquake last year.

Earlier in the afternoon while talking to leaders and cadres of his party in India, PM Dahal said that he was seeking to strike a balanced relationship with India and China.

“There is a need for

balanced and cordial relations with both our neighbours for the prosperity of our country,” said Dahal. “Soon after the formation of my government, I sent special envoys to India and China to convey the message that the new government in Kathmandu wants to have cordial and balanced ties with both our neighbours,” Maoist leader Laxman Pant quoted Dahal as saying.

Dahal added that the priority of his India visit was to clear misunderstandings that cropped up following the constitution promulgation in Nepal. “The main objective of my visit is to clear misunderstandings between the two countries,” said Dahal.

Similarly, addressing the Nepali community in the Indian capital, Dahal said his government’s main priority at home would be implementation of the constitution.  

On Thursday evening, some Indian leaders, including DP Tripathi of the Nationalist Congress party, Sarad Yadav of Janata Dal United and Sitaram Yechuri of Communist Party of India (Marxist) called on PM Dahal at the embassy.

“We advised PM Dahal to focus on building trust between the two countries,” Tripathi told the Post after the meeting. The Indian leaders called on Dahal to maintain national consensus and unity at home.

Yechuri expressed commitment to extend support to quake victims in Nepal through his party. He also hoped that concerns of the Madhes-based parties would be addressed through constitution amendment in Nepal.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also met PM Dahal. The two leaders discussed ways to regulate border and possible cooperation between Nepal and Bihar state. Kumar also extended an invitation to PM Dahal to visit Bihar.

Earlier, Dahal was received by Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

Dahal’s official engagements with Indian leaders are scheduled for Friday when he will meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.