AFTER many difficulties and prolonged negotiations, Nepal has succeeded in forming a new government, headed this time by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the tough-minded Communist leader who has emerged as the head of a coalition of many political parties. Better known perhaps as ‘Prachanda’, which is the nom-de-guerre he adopted in the heat of the struggle against the monarchy, the new leader has finally been able to put together a new team to replace that of KP Oli, which was a short-lived affair that had teetered perilously in the few months it had been in office. And there were others before him, testifying to the inherent complexity of establishing a stable government out of divided political entities. In the light of the experience of the last few years as Nepal has grappled with framing and operating a new Constitution, it may be tempting to suppose that the chances of the latest incumbent are unlikely to be significantly better than those of the previous ones. However, Dahal is an experienced leader who must be well aware of the numerous pitfalls that lie before him; he has been prime minister on an earlier occasion, and though that was a short-lived experience, it should serve him in good stead as he embarks on another spell at the top.

Nepal’s tangled politics are unpredictable and the new PM, like his predecessors, may have much to do in order to keep his government together. However, his most pressing challenge could be that of meeting expectations of improved conditions within the country: Nepal’s economic and development problems remain severe, and a recent white paper on the economy paints a grim picture, foreseeing minimal growth and few prospects of a quick turnaround. Earthquake damage from last year’s devastating catastrophe remains a vast public issue that continues to absorb a substantial part of national resources; although massive international assistance poured in to meet Nepal’s crisis when it occurred, with India at the forefront of those providing succour, the scale of destruction was so extensive that relief and rehabilitation remain prime preoccupations.

Disturbed political conditions have only added to the burden. The Madhesi groups in areas contiguous to India have held out for a better constitutional deal and have used their advantageous geographical location to block normal traffic, compounding the problem of post-earthquake relief and resulting in severe hardships that have not been wholly overcome even after several months; even today, while normal movement is now largely restored, underlying political and economic problems still remain.

Of great concern to New Delhi should be the belief among some sections in the neighbouring country that India had a hand in fomenting the agitation and the consequential blockade. This has been stoutly denied but given the persistence of some divisive issues between the two countries apprehensions of this nature can readily arise and foster a sense of grievance in the more vulnerable party. All the more need, therefore, as Nepal’s new government takes power, for renewed effort to set matters right and address outstanding grievances. It is important that both sides should re-discover the mutual confidence that has been a feature of India-Nepal relations from the earliest days, which has enabled them to develop a rare, more or less unique structure of relations. The open border between the two is a prime aspect of this relationship, and there are several other features that have added to the sense of intimate mutual understanding between them. Both countries have benefited greatly from these arrangements, which should be maintained and reinforced in the time ahead. Accomplishing this will certainly be an important task for Dahal, as it has always been for the leaders of both the two countries. It is in that spirit that one should see Modi’s prompt message of congratulations and welcome to Nepal’s newly appointed leader and the invitation for him to pay an early visit to India. Modi has earlier made some notable gestures towards Nepal as a priority area of Indian interest, and the chain of top-level exchanges needs to be resumed as early as practicable. As a seasoned leader with plenty of experience of dealing with India, Dahal will no doubt address this issue matter more fully as he settles into his new office.

For Nepal, the abiding strategic challenge is to find an acceptable path through the differing perceptions and demands of India and China, the two great neighbours that hem it in on either side. Historically, Nepal has been identified much more closely with its Indian neighbour, with which it shares rare cultural continuity and economic linkages, so much so that at times India’s close embrace may feel stifling, and the smaller partner might feel impelled seek more space to pursue its own course. While this cannot be precluded, it is important to maintain proper balance, for the issues that need constantly to be kept in view have a security and strategic dimension that none of the parties can ignore.

Periodically, some issues of India’s frontier policy, in which relations with Nepal are a prime component, have taken on a new dimension as a result of the ambitious Chinese plans to develop easier access to its peripheral provinces abutting South Asia. New roads and railway lines have been constructed by China to link its remote areas and create fresh opportunities for development. This flurry of activity has already achieved much, and more is on the way. It has also thrown up a number of important issues of strategic import. Until now, India has tended to see the Himalayan range as its sentinel and guardian, the immemorial dividing line of its security area from the region beyond, but new factors have now to be taken into account; the trans-Himalayan regions having become accessible where once they were not, new solutions must be found for ancient security questions pertaining to the land frontier. This is part of India’s long-term challenge, and it cannot but affect the neighbours, including Nepal.

The accelerating process of change in the surrounding region should also serve as an incentive for India and its partners to accelerate their own development activities within and around the Himalayas. Opportunities for development have multiplied in recent years and Nepal already has a considerable list of ambitious projects for collaborative development with its southern neighbour, many in the area of hydropower, which is especially prized in these days of heightened environmental awareness. Thus Dahal has taken over at a time when the two countries can do much together so long as conditions remain conducive. It is also important at this juncture that India should take fresh initiatives to reaffirm its credentials as a good neighbour and steadfast friend.

—The Statesman

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2016