Kathmandu – Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal is set to visit New Delhi next week to attend the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, a trip that comes amid a string of quiet diplomatic frictions between Nepal and India.
When pressed for details, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri confirmed the travel plans to Kathmandupati and said “Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal is preparing for a high-level visit. We will make the details public at an appropriate time,”.
Khanal is attending the summit scheduled for June 1-2 following an invitation from Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the event.
Beyond the immediate focus on conservation, diplomatic efforts are underway from the Nepali side to secure a courtesy meeting between Minister Khanal and PM Modi on the sidelines.
Sources within the ministry also confirm that groundwork is being laid for a “one-on-one” session with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
As tensions rise amidst the strained relationship between the two neighboring nations, the upcoming summit offers a crucial diplomatic window to thaw ties and mend relations between their leaderships.
While Nepal is one of the 24 member nations of the IBCA, a global alliance initiated by India in April 2023 to protect seven major big cat species including tigers, snow leopards and cheetahs, the upcoming visit carries heavy political undertones.
