“You will have egg on your face if you continue to do what China eggs on you to do,” a clear message was given by India to Nepal during a recent meeting between Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. An equally tough message was given to Gyawali by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister was in Delhi for the bilateral joint commission. He also called on both S. Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh. Gyawali was given facts and evidence-based details about how Beijing has been laying a trap for Kathmandu to further its sinister agenda from its soil. “China’s Communist rulers are using Nepal for their own benefit and nothing else,” he was told. Gyawali was also told that China does not want political instability and a strong developmental wave in Nepal as a strong neighbour will not suit its plan.
Sources said the Ministry of External Affairs top officials present during Gyawali’s meeting with Jaishankar briefed Nepalese officials on how China was behind the border issue raised by Kathmandu some time back. It was all Beijing’s design to create tension between India and Nepal. “Why should Nepal fall into the trap of the Dragon,” officials of Nepal were told.
“Kathmandu is still desirous of having a conversation over the Kalapani-Lipulekh border issue with India as mutual trust, understanding, and respect for each other’s sensitivities and concern remain the basis of bilateral ties,” stated Gyawali after the meeting. The officials term it as a toned-down statement from Nepal›s Foreign Minister.
Indian Ministers have urged the Nepalese delegation to give a strong signal to the Chinese officials whenever they call on them with one agenda or the other. Kathmandu is expected to give Beijing a clear message that it will not play into its hands any more, said an official.
In a press conference, Gyawali gave a positive message for the Indian side as well. “Nepal will never allow external meddling in its politics as its leadership is capable of handling problems,” he said on Saturday amid apprehensions in India about China’s role in the political turmoil in the neighbouring country. “We are able to settle our problems ourselves. As a close neighbour, there may be some concerns or questions but we never accept interference,” said Gyawali, replying to a question about China’s efforts to resolve differences between factions of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
Indian diplomats consider such statements as a clear signal to China. What is more important is the fact that Nepal’s Foreign Minister has said so while addressing the media on Indian soil. It will drive home the message to China, says a diplomat.