KATHMANDU, JUNE 7
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said Nepal-India relations must move beyond geopolitical sensitivities of the past and be anchored firmly on development, diplomacy and measurable outcomes, as he wrapped up high-level engagements in New Delhi.
Speaking to journalists at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi and in responses to media queries, including ANI, Minister Khanal said Nepal and India were not "merely neighbours joined by political lines on a map," but "children of the same rivers, mountains and ancient wisdom."
Expressing gratitude for the hospitality received during the visit, he said Nepal's new political leadership carried a "historic mandate" focused on good governance, meritocracy and accountability, and was committed to results-driven diplomacy.
"We refuse to look at India through the distorted lens of 20th-century geopolitics," he said, adding that Nepal seeks to shift the relationship towards economic transformation, innovation and development outcomes.
Describing India as a "rising global tech and economic powerhouse," Khanal said Nepal aimed to engage with India's growth trajectory while bringing its own "aspiring energy," with a focus on closing the gap between promises and delivery.
On bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on June 6, he said discussions were "productive and wide-ranging," covering trade, connectivity, energy cooperation, water resources and people-to-people ties.
A key outcome, he said, was the announcement of the operationalisation of person-to-person (P2P) cross-border digital payment transactions under the MoU between Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) and India's NPCI. The system is expected to enable UPI-style cross-border payments, facilitating small entrepreneurs, tourists and citizens on both sides.
"We are moving towards seamless digital financial connectivity that directly benefits people on both sides of the border," he said.
Khanal stressed that border and boundary issues would be resolved through established diplomatic mechanisms, noting that technical field teams were already working on the ground. He said both sides had agreed to activate dormant institutional mechanisms to address outstanding issues through dialogue.
On the Kalapani-Lipulekh region, he reiterated Nepal's position that the territory belongs to Nepal and said Kathmandu has formally conveyed its concerns to both India and China through diplomatic notes.
On other issues, including the Agniveer recruitment scheme, he said Nepal remains open to discussions when required, while describing ongoing engagement with the United States on trade-related concerns, including tariffs.
On the EPG report, he clarified that it remains an inter-governmental document meant for submission to the two prime ministers.
Summarising his visit, Khanal said the key objectives were to initiate higher-level political exchanges and communicate the priorities of Nepal's new government. He added that both sides had agreed to deepen engagement across sectors and ensure that bilateral mechanisms are actively utilised to address outstanding issues.
"There is no problem too large when we engage with openness, rationality and mutual respect," he said, calling for a partnership "driven by shared hopes and future prospects rather than past anxieties."