PM’s Upcoming India Visit Meaningful Homework Needed

Nepal and India are really good neighbours. They have an ancient relationship which binds them religiously, culturally and also at the people to people level. That is why it was heartening to hear from Foreign Minister NP Saud that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda would be making an official visit to India very soon. As per news in this daily, the Foreign Ministry would send letters to all the ministries for their requirements and also suggestions on what could be discussed in the bilateral meetings between the officials of the two countries while they were there during the official visit of the Prime Minister. 

This would also help the Prime Minister himself realise and also take note of what issues he must bring up during his meeting with the Prime Minister of India, a large nation which plays an important role not only in regional matters but in international politics as well. ‘We will give priority to all the suggestions put forth by the ministries and also give top priority for national interest during all official talks,” said Foreign Minister NP Saud. This writer himself has participated in more than half a dozen such official visits of Nepali prime ministers to New Delhi. 

Homework 

These visits are really important for landlocked Nepal, which depends highly on India’s support in many sectors, but it is also very crucial for Nepali authorities to be fully prepared for such meetings. But this time, the government seems serious not only in doing its homework, but also in putting forth the problems of Nepal in a bilateral manner so as to resolve them.  This writer while being an official participant in such official visits made by our prime ministers to India must say he has been impressed by the wonderful and respected welcome extended by the Indian government to the Nepali head of government and also to other participants.

But our own side seems much lacking in their preparedness for such a visit to an important neighbour like India. Not this time, in spite of the fact that the final dates and issues have not been prepared, yet our newly appointed Foreign Minister has already started the homework for how Nepal will face the Indian officials during meetings which will decide on many things, especially matters which will benefit Nepal. Such type of work is a must, not while dealing with a bigger and more powerful country, but also a country which has experienced politicians and polished personnel in its diplomatic field. 

Nepal must learn from India, which has a different Indian Foreign Service sector, where it selects top level candidates and puts them through a gruelling training period for a long time before posting them even for small jobs abroad. But here in Nepal, we see completely fresh persons, who probably don’t know even the ‘D’ of diplomacy, but they are appointed as heads of missions just because they are close relatives of powerful leaders or they are party supporters and also individuals who have money. It is not for nothing that our missions abroad have done little work and are lethargic in their efforts to promote Nepali interests in those friendly countries.

 It seems most of our diplomats think of their job as a vacation and also a good way to earn money in foreign currency. Actually, if we are to really make our diplomacy successful, there must be a strong independent monitoring body to actually evaluate the performance of all our officials working in embassies. The training side is also there, but more than our own foreign policy authorities, more experts are needed to tell our officials or politically appointed mission heads the subtle ways of this art, where they have to not only make happy, but also convince many people of the positive points of our own country.

But to come back to the upcoming visit to India by our Prime Minister, this matter must not be taken lightly by any side, especially government officials here, who will either be part of the group accompanying the Prime Minister or those who will be working actively in preparing Nepal’s stance during the visit. How our leaders deal with the articulate Indian diplomats and very canny politicians, will make a lot of difference of what will be the outcome of our Prime Minister’s visit. One man alone can make his presence felt, but the intricacies of the relations between two close countries must be worked out by many other officials who have to know the needs of Nepal and the ability of India in helping its smaller and much more less developed neighbour.

India’s problems 

This writer understands the problems that India is facing as its population has soared and also the haste of the central government in keeping a balance not only internally but also making its presence felt internationally as a  fast growing economic and military power. Nepal will have to contribute in making this friendly neighbour successful in its efforts and take advantage of the economic growth of that country. It simply cannot stand aloof or take any sides, it must cooperate and coordinate with its neighbours for it to benefit and keep aloft its sovereignty. 

But for these things to happen, we need better planners and also adept diplomats who are really aware of the present political scenario internationally. Therefore, the forthcoming visit to India by Prime Minister Prachanda should also be taken as a step forward in making Nepal heard and taken with seriousness in its efforts to play a role in not only international peace keeping, but also in its own prosperity and uplifting of the quality of life of its own citizens despite the difficult situations it faces.

(The author is former editor of this daily.)