That old spark: 

That old spark:

Context

• Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba visit to India was his first foreign visit as Prime Minister, and it confirmed Kathmandu’s abiding interest in strong ties with India.

Rebuilding relations

• The recovery of bilateral warmth has taken some doing on both sides.
• India had mounted strong obstruction to the Constitution with demands that it be made more inclusive, especially vis-à-vis the Madhesis in the Terai area, sending ties with Kathmandu’s ruling establishment on a downward spiral.
• Even as Nepal fought to cope with rehabilitation work after the massive earthquake of 2015, many in Kathmandu held India responsible for the three-month-long “great blockade” of goods and fuel supplies that followed sustained protests by Madhesi groups.
• To that end, Mr. Deuba’s visit was another opportunity, as were the visits of his predecessors K.P. Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, to repair the India-Nepal relationship.

The upcoming projects

• The joint statement at the end of his visit refers to the “deep, comprehensive and multi-faceted” ties between the neighbours as it listed projects being developed in Nepal under lines of credit provided by India.
• These include $200 million for irrigation projects, $330 million for road development and $250 million for power infrastructure in Nepal.
• India made the requisite appeal to Kathmandu “to take all sections of society on board” while implementing its Constitution, but the tenor was notably softer this time.
• No mention was made of a key amendment to the Constitution to accommodate Madhesi demands that had been defeated just last Monday.

Not an easy path to rekindle friendship

• The memories of the blockade still rankle in Nepal.
• While the South Block and Singha Durbar have been keen to move ahead with trade linkages and complete the integrated check-posts at Raxaul-Birgunj and Jogbani-Biratnagar, the land-locked country has actively sought to break its dependence on India for fuel and connectivity.
• Since 2015, Nepal and China have cooperated on infrastructure plans, including a big hydroelectric project and a rail link to Tibet.
• Nepal is also part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• India is struggling to influence the historical closeness with Nepal, the open border the two share and the special status Nepalis working in India have appreciated.
• The India-China stand-off in Doklam will add to the awkwardness in the trilateral relationship. Mr. Deuba’s visit will need a sustained follow-up.