In the traditional Nepali psyche, the success of bilateral or multilateral relations is usually measured in terms of what and how much Nepal ‘gets’ rather than what Nepal can ‘give’. A week after the Indian PM’s state visit to Nepal, which hit all the high notes, it is now time for the Government of ‘New’ Nepal to give back to India. It could do so by addressing and capitalising on Indian interests in Nepal to deepen the trust between the two nations in the dawn of re-energised relations.

Since the power shift in May, the new government in India has accorded top priority to re-energising relationships with its neighbours by enforcing the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy immediately after PM Narendra Modi took office. Historical events between India and Nepal, like the Nepali PM’s participation in Modi’s oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi, the Indian Minister of External Affairs’ visits to Saarc countries including Nepal, the Indian PM’s first state visit to Nepal after 17 long years and the first foreign PM’s address to the Nepali Constituent Assembly (CA) have all taken place since May.

Give back

Though it’s understood that India does not expect Nepal to make extraordinary contributions, it is still in Nepal’s interest to meet India’s handful of interests professionally and efficiently. There are certain things that Nepal could do for India: ally against terrorism, sovereignty threats and anti-Indian activities to foster regional stability; disestablish Nepal as a safe haven for Indian and international criminals; fight against the black market fake currency flow into India; and minimise threats and damages from natural calamities like floods. Nepal and India shared a special in-law relation ever since Princess Sita from Janakpur in Nepal got married to Prince Ram of Ayodhya in India. Besides the common religious, linguistic and cultural identities, Nepal and India share a ‘special relationship’ accorded by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Though many critiques point that Nepal has been at a disadvantage when it comes to its ties with India and its intervention in Nepal’s internal matters, the reality is that Nepal has always looked up to India for suggestions considering India’s know hows of running a much larger and older democracy and an effective political economy.

India too suffers

In fact, it could be argued that India has actually suffered more from Nepal’s inefficiencies. Thousands of Indians have lost their homes and lives in many of the floods triggered at the water thrust-southern border of Nepal since the very beginning. Just a day before PM Modi’s visit last week, thousands of people in Bihar were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge because of flood threats from the Sunkoshi landslide in Nepal.

Though the Government of Nepal is working on managing the tragic incident in Nepal, it is not in Nepal’s capacity to assure any kind of safety to India. The Indians call the Koshi, which flows from Nepal into the Ganges, the ‘sorrow of Bihar’.

Unless Nepal steps up its game and takes serious consideration of what it could give back to India, it will be impossible for Nepal to gain any kind of respect on the external affairs front and in the relationship that our two countries share.