KATMANDU: In diplomatic arm twisting reminiscent of the gunboat diplomacy practiced in yesteryears by Colonia Empires, India has closed vital routes between Nepal and the rest of the world as part of a trade dispute, ‘Nepalese officials say.
The officials said all but two of the 13 transit routes on the India ‘Nepal border were closed, on March 24 a day after trade and transit treaties between the two countries expired with negotiations for renewal at an impasse.
Mountainous Nepal, sandwiched between India and China, relies on India for almost half its total imports and most essential commodities.
Although Katmandu has said there are comfortable reserves of essential commodities, rationing of kerosense and other basics has begun already.
New Delhi said a temporary pact initialed last September expired because Nepal had not done the paperwork to put it into effect.
It now wants new talks, but says ‘Nepal has lost all its favorable trade treatment won under the expired treaties, including several entry points for goods.
Nepal’s 39 year old friendship pact with India has been a cornerstone of the kingdom’s foreign relations.
But Katmandu’s growing ties with China have already alarmed New Delhi.
But Katmandu’s growing ties with China have alarmed New Delhi.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman in New Delhi said’ that closing most of the trade routes was not meant to create hardship for Nepalese and that essential goods like medicines and baby food would not be affected.
The Foreign Minister of Nepal, Shailendra Upadhyaya will fly to New Delhi on Sunday in an effort to revive negotiations, officials said. But they suggested that Nepal was prepared to hold out for a favorable new pact.
“It is high time to restructure our relationship with India, and if we fail this time we will be dependent for many years to come,” said one.
“It should be the beginning of a more mature relationship between Nepal and India, and for this people should be prepared to face any hardship,” he said.
Nepalese diplomats said India ‘was concerned about Nepal’s acquisition of Chinese arms last August. India and China fought a border war in 1962, but ties between the two big Asian powers have improved recently.
Nepal, one of the world’s 10 poorest countries, has been a leading advocate of an international treaty setting out the rights of landlocked countries, which it believes are easily pressured by nations through which their trade must pass.
Katmandu passionately opposes India’s effort to tie the trade agreement to transit rights for Nepal.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 31, 1989
