KATHMANDU, April 15: Less than a month after the formation of the new government, speculation is already growing over Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s first foreign visit. While the government remains preoccupied with domestic priorities, particularly governance and corruption control, attention has begun to shift outward, with India emerging as a likely first destination.
The buzz intensified after his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, extended an invitation for an official visit.
The Government of Nepal, however, has yet to issue any formal statement. Speaking at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal said such discussions are natural following the invitation and its acceptance by Prime Minister Shah.
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Returning from the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference, Khanal confirmed that the invitation had been received but said the dates are yet to be decided. “At present, it has not been decided when to go, on which date, or how the visit will take place. An invitation has been extended. High-level political visits between the two countries are very natural,” he said.
His remarks have fueled speculation that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has begun groundwork for the visit. However, there is little to suggest that a trip is imminent. The date remains undecided, and India’s Foreign Secretary has not yet visited Nepal, often considered a key step in such preparations. Neither the Prime Minister’s Secretariat nor the Office of the Prime Minister has issued any statement.
Khanal also shared details of his meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, noting that Nepal must first set its priorities before engaging in high-level visits. He added that bilateral mechanisms between Nepal and India are being activated toward that end.
According to him, there are more than 40 such mechanisms, though he did not elaborate on them. Khanal met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mauritius last Friday, where the two sides discussed the Prime Minister’s potential visit and other matters of mutual interest.
Despite the invitation, the MoFA has not formally acknowledged any preparations. Sources claim the ministry has yet to initiate groundwork for the visit. Attempts to contact MoFA spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri were unsuccessful. Officials say key bilateral mechanisms are still inactive.
“For the Prime Minister’s visit to take place, government mechanisms of both countries must become active. Discussions on agendas must be held. Only then will internal preparations follow,” said a MoFA official. “So far, only an invitation has been extended. The mechanisms have not yet been activated.”
Nepal’s prime ministers have not visited India in recent years. Three years ago, Pushpa Kamal Dahal made a four-day visit from May 31 to June 3, 2023. His successor, KP Sharma Oli, was ousted before making a planned visit scheduled for September 16, 2025. Likewise, Sushila Karki, who led the interim government that followed, left office without visiting India.
