India Nepal diplomatic channels to finalise PM Balen Shah’s visit: Nepal FM Khanal
Nepal’s proposed high level visit by Prime Minister Balendra Shah , popularly known as Balen, to India will be finalised only after formal consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said, underlining that diplomatic processes are still underway.
Khanal confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended an invitation to the Nepalese leader for an official visit to India. However, he clarified that no date or itinerary has been finalized so far.
“It is natural for high level exchanges between the two countries. But matters relating to timing and details will be finalised only after consultations between the two ministries,” Khanal said after returning to Nepal from Mauritius, where he attended the 9th Indian Ocean Conference .
He added that the Nepal government has not yet taken any final decision regarding the visit, stressing that discussions will move forward only after the new administration sets its priorities and the diplomatic machinery completes necessary groundwork.
“Only after the new government fixes its priorities and the two foreign ministries complete their preparations will a decision be made on such a high-level visit,” he said.
The issue also came up during Khanal’s meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Mauritius conference. He said both sides agreed on the need for proper coordination and technical preparation before finalising any leadership level exchange.
Khanal further noted that there are around 40 bilateral mechanisms between India and Nepal, several of which are currently inactive. He stressed the need to reactivate these institutional channels to strengthen cooperation.
“We need to activate these mechanisms. The visit will take place only after completing all the necessary preparations,” he said, indicating that institutional readiness is being prioritised before any final schedule is announced.