In the first big meeting since diplomatic ties soured between India and Nepal this summer, the Indian ambassador to Kathmandu, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, will interact with Nepal's foreign secretary, Shankar Das Bairagi, on August 17.
The meeting is a scheduled one, called the "oversight mechanism meeting'' and is part of the regular interaction between the two nations. This mechanism was instituted in 2016 to create a regular review of ongoing bilateral economic and development projects.
Monday's meeting will be the eighth one under the mechanism.
Although it may be a regular interaction, the meeting assumes significance since the two nations have not directly spoken to each other at high levels since Nepal amended its constitution in June, changing its map in the national emblem to include Indian territory.
The territory—Kalapani, Limpyudhara and Lipulekh on Nepal's western border, which is near the Pithoragarh area of India—is disputed. While India has historical maps and documents to prove the territory is its, Nepal has been claiming the land as its own.
The map change was triggered by India releasing its new political map last November after the internal rejigging of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. While India's new map only showed the internal boundaries being changed, and the international boundary remained as it has always been depicted, Nepal took umbrage.
Ties have been slipping rather rapidly ever since. Whiel Nepal claimed India was not talking to it, India insisted Nepal needed to create an atmosphere conducive to talks. In that light, the August 17 talks assumes significance, given that it is the first one at such a high level in a long while. While India has been having routine COVID-19 management meetings with Nepal, these have not been at such a high level.
Kwatra was infamously summoned by Nepals' foreign ministry to express the Himalayan nation's protest against a new road that Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated via Lipulekh to Kailash Mansarovar, Nepal claiming the road went through its sovereign territory.
This summer has been one where Nepal leaders have been constantly prodding India. Its prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli made derogatory remarks about Satyamev Jayate, India's motto. He also made the infamous jaw-dropping statement that Lord Ram was born in Nepal, not the Ayodhya of Uttar Pradesh. India remained silent, and Nepal's foreign ministry had to hasten with damage control, saying the statement wasn't meant to hurt anyone.
More recently, the Nepalese rose in outrage against Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar calling Gautam Buddha a great Indian, and issued a statement claiming he was born in Nepal. Incidentally, no one was disputing that. India quickly issued a statement to soothe Nepal.
However, with Nepal deploying armed patrols along the joint border, impeding flood preventing work in Bihar, and even shooting Indian citizens who had strayed across the border, this summer has been a trying one for bilateral ties. A situation not made any better with the worsening relationship with China, and Nepal's distinct leaning northwards.
India this week gifted 10 ventilators worth Rs 2.8 crore to Nepal, and has been assisting its neighbour with medicines for COVID-19. While the feeling in Nepal is that this meeting could resume conversations, India has underplayed the importance. Sources say it is a routine meeting.
