3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: May 1, 2026 10:17 AM IST
In a first diplomatic outreach to Nepal post the swearing-in of the Balen Shah government a month ago, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Kathmandu in the second week of May. As per sources, dates for the visit are being finalised. The Ministry of External Affairs is yet to make an official announcement.
Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met his Nepalese counterpart Shisir Khanal in Mauritius on the sidelines of the ninth Indian Ocean Conference. While Jaishankar had congratulated him on his appointment, the two had also “discussed realising the full potential of the India-Nepal partnership by deeper collaboration in different sectors”. During their meeting, Jaishankar and Khanal had also discussed ongoing projects and programmes and explored high-level diplomatic visits in the near future.
According to sources, Misri’s Nepal visit may be followed by a high-level visit from Kathmandu in the coming months. During his proposed two-day visit, the foreign secretary will seek to understand the priorities of the new government, including on key ongoing projects, and also to increase political engagement in the near future.
There are several India-funded development projects in Nepal, covering infrastructure, health, education and energy sectors. Major initiatives include the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, hydropower projects, cross-border railways, and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs).
These projects are currently being implemented in Nepal with Indian economic and technical assistance and are at different stages of completion. Besides, there has been a long-pending boundary dispute between the two countries, which is expected to be touched upon during the visit. Nepal has also been seeking additional air entry routes, especially through Mahendranagar, something that is expected to be discussed.
It is also likely that Misri will extend an invitation to Shah on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Eyeing a reset in ties
Soon after Shah’s swearing in on March 27, PM Modi had congratulated him on X, expressing his desire to work closely with him to strengthen India-Nepal friendship and deepen cooperation for mutual benefit. “Your appointment reflects the trust reposed in your leadership by the people of Nepal. I look forward to working closely with you to take India-Nepal friendship and cooperation to even greater heights for the mutual benefit of our two peoples,” Modi had said.
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New Delhi is looking to recalibrate its ties with the Himalayan neighbour with the stable and full-majority Balen Shah government coming in, in the wake of the strained ties with the previous KP Oli-led government in the preceding years. The reset will focus on enhanced economic cooperation and energy connectivity.
In fact, within a week of the Shah government’s swearing in, India and Nepal signed seven projects under a grant assistance of Rs 4.73 million Nepal rupees (approximate Rs 29 crore ), as per the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. The projects include the construction of cold stores, school buildings, and a birthing centre, across seven provinces of Nepal, according to the embassy statement.
A few days ago, the MEA had hosted a delegation of journalists from Nepal. Besides Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the group had also met Misri, who had briefed them “on the significant progress made in the multifaceted partnership between India and Nepal and its positive outlook for the future”.
