New Delhi: Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that Kathmandu aims to resolve its ongoing border friction with New Delhi through quiet diplomacy, emphasizing that no territorial challenge is insurmountable if approached with an open heart. Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi at the conclusion of his three-day official visit, Khanal affirmed that the newly formed administration in Nepal refuses to view its neighbor through the distorted, hyper-sensitive lens of modern geopolitics, preferring to channel energy into development diplomacy.
The top diplomat’s visit arrived amidst intense political scrutiny following controversial remarks by Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The Prime Minister had claimed in parliament that technical, localized mismatches had led to cross-border land usage, suggesting that Nepal had encroached on Indian territories just as India had occupied Nepalese land. While Shah’s statement disrupted parliament sessions back home, Khanal clarified that Nepal is pursuing a calm, data-driven, and evidence-based mechanism to sort out unresolved segments like the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura tri-junction, firmly rejecting any third-party mediation or hyper-nationalistic grandstanding.
Following a highly productive bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Khanal highlighted that true independence means ensuring shared borders function as efficient bridges rather than frustrating barriers. The two nations formally announced the operationalization of cross-border peer-to-peer digital wallet transactions, signaling a deeper push toward financial connectivity. Lauding India’s global rise as a technology and economic powerhouse, Khanal reiterated that Nepal’s primary agenda remains economic transformation through mutual cooperation rather than lingering on the anxieties of past friction.
