Chitwan, September 15

Former prime minister and senior CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal today said Nepal has to maintain balanced ties with India and China.

Talking to media persons at Bharatpur Airport, Khanal stressed the need for the country’s foreign policy to be balanced. He argued that both the government and the opposition should have a common foreign policy to deal with other countries.

“The nation should have a common foreign policy, and the government must not lean closer to either China or India,” Khanal added.

Khanal held that lack of proper research had thrown the Nepali prime minister’s India sojourn into controversy. “Our prime minister is being exploited because of lack of proper homework. We have ample evidences to corroborate this,” Khanal claimed.

He said that the prime minister has much to do to make the country proud during his current visit to India.

Khanal recounted that his party the UML had submitted a memorandum to PM Dahal regarding his India visit. He said that his party had suggested that the prime minster focus on democracy, nationalism, sovereignty, and development works.