‘Very special relationship’: Jaishankar calls for ‘decisive shift’ in India–Nepal ties; Kathmandu signals reset, says ‘no old baggage’

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NEW DELHI: India and Nepal share a “very special relationship” and there is now an opportunity to “decisively shift the trajectory” of bilateral engagement to realise its full potential, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday during talks with Nepal foreign minister Shisir Khanal in New Delhi.In his opening remarks, Jaishankar underlined the depth of the partnership, saying, “India and Nepal share a very special relationship, one which is built on a strong foundation of vibrant people-to-people ties, cross-border connect and shared cultural and religious traditions.”He added that the relationship is “anchored by shared trust, goodwill, and mutual benefit,” noting that cooperation has steadily expanded in trade, investment, energy, education, disaster response and culture.Jaishankar also stressed continuity in India’s support, saying, “Our two countries have always stood by each other in times of need. In the wake of the ongoing crisis in West Asia, we have ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies to Nepal”.

Khanal, who began a three-day visit to India on Friday, said Nepal attaches the “highest priority” to its relationship with India and is ready for “substantive and purposeful engagement”.“We carry no old baggage and have only firm resolve for a genuinely transformative relationship with our close neighbour and the most important partner,” he said.He further described India and Nepal as more than just neighbouring states, saying, “Nepal and India are not merely two countries, we are stakeholders of a proud ancient civilization.”Khanal said Nepal’s new leadership is focused on “good governance, economic transformation and result-driven diplomacy,” adding that the relationship should now move towards a “modern development-oriented partnership.”He also expressed gratitude for India’s assistance in areas such as fuel and fertiliser supplies during crises, saying Nepal has always relied on India “at the time of disaster or even today during West Asia crisis.”

Jaishankar said the discussions were “productive” and covered the full spectrum of bilateral ties, including development cooperation, energy, hydropower, education, health, capacity building, digital technology, culture and sports.He said both sides now have “an opportunity to also advance ties in newer domains like startups, artificial intelligence, information technology and renewable energy,” adding that there are strong complementarities between the two governments’ development goals.Following the meeting, India and Nepal also expanded cooperation in digital infrastructure, including linkage between India’s UPI system and Nepal’s National Payments Interface to enable smoother cross-border remittances.India also handed over 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage projects under reconstruction support after the 2015 earthquake.

The talks come amid renewed tensions over Nepal’s boundary dispute remarks and suggestions of third-party involvement.India has maintained that border issues are handled through established bilateral mechanisms, reiterating its position against external mediation.Despite such sensitivities, both sides reaffirmed commitment to strengthening ties and advancing what Jaishankar described as an opportunity to “very clearly and strongly send a message of collaboration and cooperation” and “realise the full potential of our ties.”