3 weeks ago
India envoys meet Nepal, Bangladesh PMs amid diplomatic friction
India sent diplomats to meet the prime ministers of two neighboring countries, Nepal and Bangladesh.
These polite meetings are called courtesy calls, and they are a way for countries to stay friendly.
India wants to keep good relationships with the countries next to it.
Recently, the leader of Nepal said something about the land border that surprised many people.
He said Nepal had taken over some land that belongs to India.
Later, Nepal's government said he was only talking about tiny areas near border markers, not big territories.
In Bangladesh, the old leader spoke to reporters from another country and said she wants to go back and fix her country.
Bangladesh's current leaders were angry about her speech, and India said it had nothing to do with it.
These talks happened just before a big meeting of countries called the BRICS summit.
The meetings are a chance for leaders to talk about their problems and stay peaceful neighbors.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met Nepali PM Balendra Shah on Monday in the PM's first face-to-face bilateral talks with a foreign envoy since taking office in March.
Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call to Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat amid friction over former PM Sheikh Hasina's August 5 virtual press interaction from New Delhi.
Nepal's Shah had earlier told parliament that Nepal has encroached on Indian territory; Nepal's Foreign Ministry later clarified the remarks referred only to localised 'no-man's land' boundary pillar issues and cross-border farming use.
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry strongly protested Hasina's statements, which included a pledge to return to Bangladesh in December to restore democracy despite the risk of imprisonment or a death sentence.
The meetings came ahead of India hosting a BRICS summit, for which Bangladesh was invited as the current chair of BIMSTEC, with Dhaka yet to formally announce its attendance.
- Who
- Nepali PM Balendra Shah, Bangladeshi PM Tarique Rahman, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi, and former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.
- What
- India held near-simultaneous courtesy meetings with the prime ministers of Nepal and Bangladesh to reaffirm bilateral ties amid diplomatic frictions.
- Where
- Kathmandu, Nepal, and the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- When
- On Monday, following Sheikh Hasina's August 5 virtual press interaction in New Delhi; Trivedi also met Bangladesh's foreign minister the preceding Sunday.
- Why
- To ease frictions over Nepali PM Shah's border remarks and Bangladesh's objections to Hasina's statements, ahead of a BRICS summit India will host.
Statements by political leaders
Official government positions
Nepal's border comments
Statements by political leaders
PM Shah stated in parliament that Nepal has encroached on Indian territory, departing from Kathmandu's traditional stance of blaming India for border land occupation.
Official government positions
Nepal's Foreign Ministry clarified that Shah's comments referred strictly to localised 'no-man's land' (Dasgaja) boundary pillar issues and small-scale cross-border farming use, not official claims over territories like Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.
Sheikh Hasina's virtual press interaction
Statements by political leaders
Hasina said she remains determined to return to Bangladesh in December to restore democracy and put the nation on the 'right track', while acknowledging the risk of imprisonment or a death sentence.
Official government positions
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry strongly protested and condemned her statements, saying they impacted public sentiments and complicated bilateral cooperation; New Delhi said it had no involvement in the media event.
Key facts
- Event
- India-Nepal and India-Bangladesh courtesy meetings amid diplomatic frictions
- Indian Ambassador to Nepal
- Naveen Srivastava
- Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh
- Dinesh Trivedi
- Nepal PM
- Balendra Shah (in office since March)
- Bangladesh PM
- Tarique Rahman
- Former Bangladesh PM
- Sheikh Hasina
- Hasina virtual press interaction
- August 5, New Delhi
- Related meetings
- Trivedi met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman the day before; BRICS summit hosted by India with Bangladesh invited as BIMSTEC chair (PM Modi extended the invitation)
Quotes
Balendra Shah
Prime Minister of Nepal
“"Prime Minister Shah emphasised the need to deepen the historical ties between the two neighbouring nations and highlighted the importance of working together in areas of shared interest."”
firstpost.com
Sources
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