Nepal-India Joint Commission Meeting: Focus on Power, Aviation, and Deals

Indian Minister for External Affairs, S Jaishankar, is set to visit Nepal on Thursday to participate in the foreign minister-level Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting. The meeting aims to discuss and implement deals signed during the last India visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

According to sources at the Foreign Ministry, the agenda for the visit is nearly finalized, pending a final review with the Prime Minister. The joint commission meeting will cover various topics, with a particular emphasis on the power trade agreement.

A significant development is the increase in the limit for Indian assistance to High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) from Rs 50 million to Rs 200 million. This move signals a strengthened commitment to collaborative development projects.

Nepal plans to raise the issue of permission for international aviation routes through Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj, and Bhairahawa. Meanwhile, the Indian side is expected to discuss the completion timeline of the Arun III project, currently delayed due to compensation disputes, and seek permission for the development of the Tamor Hydropower Project.

Despite progress in bilateral relations, both nations have yet to agree on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Pancheshwore Multi-purpose Project, a point of contention in the energy sector.

Foreign Minister NP Saud has already discussed the upcoming joint commission meeting with PM Dahal, underlining the importance of implementing deals signed during the previous India visit. The focus will be on addressing complexities in the agreements.

PM Dahal’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Rupak Sapkota, highlighted the preparation for agreements on exporting electricity generated by both Indian-invested projects and those by Nepal. This aligns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to buying 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal over the next 10 years.

The meeting, requested by Nepal, marks the seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission gathering, emphasizing the mutual commitment to strengthen diplomatic ties. In addition to the meeting, Minister Jaishankar is scheduled to hold discussions with President Ram Chandra Paudel, PM Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli during his two-day visit.