Kathmandu, November 27

More than two months after India’s ‘unofficial blockade’ of Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today discussed with former foreign ministers and ambassadors possible ways to end the crisis.

The closed-door discussion held at the MoFA focused on measures that Nepal should employ to end the blockade and address the growing humanitarian crisis facing the country due to shortages of essential supplies, including fuel and medicines.

Former foreign ministers, former ambassadors to India and ex-foreign secretaries shared their experiences and suggested ways to end the crisis, according to Dipak Adhikari, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa had briefed about the unofficial blockade and its growing impact and sought the participants’ views on ways to end the crisis.

Former Ambassador to India Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, who also attended the discussion, told The Himalayan Times that over three dozen ex-ministers, retired diplomats and envoys shared their views on ways to end the current crisis.

He, however, didn’t share what he told in the closed-door consultation. According to a MoFA official, suggestions offered include early internationalisation of blockade as it has already created a humanitarian crisis.

Likewise, they also suggested addressing the genuine demands of Madhesi people through amendment to the constitution and resolving the current stand-off with New Delhi diplomatically.

Similarly, they also stressed the need for upgrading the roads linking the northern neighbour China so as to be able to import essential goods and adopting measures to build self-reliance in possible areas.

Likewise, the participants of the discussion also advised the government ministers not to make controversial remarks that would be damaging to Nepal’s bilateral relations with India. They suggested to the government to express its concerns through proper channels like the MoFA, according to the officials.