KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balen Shah is unlikely to undertake any foreign visit, including to neighboring India and China, before completing 100 days in office, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Officials said the government has prioritized delivering visible results during its first three months in office in line with electoral commitments, making foreign travel a low priority for the prime minister at this stage.
Although the Indian side has reportedly shown keen interest in hosting Shah in recent weeks, sources said there is little possibility of a visit taking place before mid-June unless there is a dramatic political or diplomatic shift.
Shah was appointed prime minister on March 27 during the Ram Navami festival. On the same day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him and expressed interest in working closely to strengthen Nepal-India ties.
“India looks forward to working closely with you to further elevate the friendship and cooperation between India and Nepal for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries,” Modi had stated in his message.
Subsequently, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar held discussions during the Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius regarding high-level bilateral visits and diplomatic engagement.
During the meeting, Modi formally extended an invitation to Shah to visit India. Shah reportedly responded positively, stating that the date would be finalized after necessary diplomatic preparations and internal consultations.
Following the conference, Khanal told journalists that discussions had taken place regarding a high-level political visit, though no date had been fixed.
He said the new government would first determine its priorities and allow technical committees from both countries to complete groundwork before moving ahead with high-level engagements.
According to officials, both Nepal and India have begun preliminary preparations for the visit, but a final schedule may still take time. Shah has reportedly indicated that neither India nor China visits would be prioritized during the government’s initial three months.
A close aide to the prime minister said domestic responsibilities, including work related to landless squatters and preparations for the national budget scheduled for May 29, have made immediate foreign travel difficult.
“The government was formed on March 27. It does not appear likely that a date for an India visit will be fixed before June 27,” the aide said. “A visit in Jestha is highly unlikely. If it happens, it may only be around June.”
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Shah intends to focus on producing tangible results inside the country before beginning international engagements.
“The prime minister has adopted a strategy of concentrating on work during the first three months. Unless absolutely necessary, the chances of a foreign visit before Asar remain very low,” another official said.
Agenda still under preparation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to finalize the agenda for Shah’s potential India visit. Sources said discussions are ongoing between the foreign minister and foreign secretary regarding both the visit schedule and agenda items.
Officials said around 50 to 60 agenda points could be raised during bilateral discussions. Key issues expected to feature prominently include disputes related to Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Nepal’s revised political map.
Preparatory work involving secretary-level and ministerial discussions is also underway, although officials admitted that budget-related responsibilities have slowed the process.
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Kathmandu on May 11 for a two-day trip. Officials said discussions on several bilateral agenda items are likely during his visit.
Following Misri’s trip, Foreign Minister Khanal may travel to India, after which both sides are expected to move toward finalizing the prime minister’s visit agenda.
The ministry said Nepal is currently reviewing past agreements, achievements, and priorities in Nepal-India relations through inter-ministerial and high-level consultations.
Shah has reportedly directed Foreign Minister Khanal to conduct a detailed study of all past bilateral achievements and unresolved issues, while identifying solutions based on facts and national interest.
Sources said that if Misri visits Nepal, he is likely to meet senior ministers and officials, including Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, though it remains unclear whether he will meet Prime Minister Shah directly.
The visit may also include meetings with Nepal’s finance, energy, physical infrastructure, and law ministers, as well as parliamentary leaders.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had also received an invitation from India during his third term in office, but his government collapsed before the visit could take place.
However, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had visited India after becoming prime minister following the 2022 elections.
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