: Kamal Thapa States the Transit Treaty with China Has Not Been Implemented

Kathmandu – Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that he would urge the Indian side to accept the report prepared by the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) on the 1950 Nepal-India Peace and Friendship Treaty. Speaking at the launch of the book “Diplomacy and Geopolitics” written by former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, Oli stated that after the EPG report is accepted, it would be easier to have further dialogue on issues like border disputes.

The committee formed under the top-level agreement between Nepal and India to review the 1950 Treaty has prepared its report, but India has been indifferent to accepting it for a long time. In the past, Oli had strongly criticized then-Prime Minister Prachanda in Parliament for not proposing to the Indian Prime Minister to accept the EPG report.

Recalling the trade and transit treaty he signed with China during the Indian blockade of Nepal in 2015, Oli reiterated that it was a groundbreaking achievement. He noted that occasional problems between neighboring countries are normal and can be resolved through open and frank dialogue. Oli emphasized that solutions should be sought based on facts and evidence while upholding legitimate national interests and international responsibilities.

“Based on neutrality, honesty, and non-partisanship, Nepal maintains good relations with both neighbors. We do not play one neighbor against the other, nor do we wish harm to anyone,” Oli said. “We will not allow our land to be used against any neighbor. We adhere to the principles of the United Nations. If these principles are violated, we must be able to say it was wrong. We must put forth facts over arguments. We are sensitive to world peace and the security of our citizens. No country should harm the dignity of another for its own interests.”

Prime Minister Oli expressed Nepal’s commitment to neutrality and peaceful resolution while adhering to the principles of the United Nations. He emphasized that no country should harm another’s dignity for its own interests and highlighted the sensitivity of Nepal to world peace and the security of its citizens. Oli’s remarks have sparked widespread interest in how he will present Nepal’s border issues to the Indian side.

At the book launch, author and former Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa urged Oli to push for the implementation of the transit agreement with China and to speak openly and fearlessly on issues of national interest and dignity on international platforms. Thapa, who was involved in discussions with India on reviewing the 1950 Treaty and was a key figure in the rail, oil, and transit agreements with China, emphasized the importance of implementing these agreements. He recalled the economic blockades imposed by India in 1989 and 2015, noting that he personally witnessed the suffering of the Nepalese people during those times.

“I saw up close the pain the Nepalese people endured. This should never happen again,” he said. Thapa mentioned that he had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the economic blockade was wrong. “As Foreign Minister, I addressed the United Nations General Assembly, stating that while we are a small nation, the blockade is unacceptable,” he said.

Thapa pointed out that problems arise due to conceptual differences between Nepal and India on geopolitics and security issues. “Narrowing this gap is crucial. This is an opportune moment for the government,” he said, adding that despite agreements between the two neighbors, there is a problem with implementation. “Agreements are not implemented honestly. The transit treaty with China has not been executed.”

Thapa mentioned that Nepal’s location between China and India is not just a challenge but also an opportunity. “It is a privilege to be situated between China and India,” he said. “Therefore, we must maintain a balanced relationship between the two countries.”

Protests Against Prime Minister Oli

Earlier in the day, during the Gaura Festival celebration at Tundikhel in Kathmandu, there were protests against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. A group of youths shouted slogans against Prime Minister Oli while he was present on stage. The group chanted slogans including “Throw stones, Balen” while Oli was on stage. The event was also attended by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Tourism Minister Badri Pandey, Forest Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, and Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari.