KATHMANDU : Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has held a telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The talk between the prime ministers of Nepal and India on the occasion of Indian Independence Day comes amid diplomatic deadlock between two countries after Nepal released its revised map that includes Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura.
There has not been any high-level formal or informal dialogue between two countries after Nepal issued its own map by amending the constitution in mid June. It was nearly four months ago when the two prime ministers spoke to each other.
Earlier on April 10, Prime Minister Oli made a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Modi that centered on collaboration and cooperation between two countries to fight against coronavirus. Interestingly, as of today, the tweet post of PM Oli about the conversation with his Indian counterpart has remained the last tweet of Nepal’s Prime Minister’s official Twitter handle.
Since then, there has not been any conversation between Prime Ministers of two countries. Though Nepal made several efforts to reach out to India by mobilizing both formal and informal channels, New Delhi, angered by the decision of Nepal to make public its new map, has been reportedly turning a cold shoulder.
Following a customary practice of sending wishes to India on the occasion of Indian Independence Day, Nepal’s PM Oli initiated a telephone call to Indian Prime Minister Modi to send greetings and held a conversation with him. “Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have held a telephone conversation,” Surya Thapa, Press Advisor of PM Oli, wrote in a Facebook post, adding that more details will come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
