Jaishankar praises resilient India-Nepal ties
India and Nepal have a unique opportunity to take their longstanding bilateral partnership to a new level by expanding cooperation into innovation-driven sectors while consolidating gains made in traditional areas of collaboration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday during talks with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal in New Delhi.
Addressing the meeting, Jaishankar described India-Nepal ties as one of South Asia’s most enduring and resilient relationships, anchored in deep-rooted social, cultural, economic and historical connections. He noted that the open border between the two countries, vibrant people-to-people exchanges and shared civilisational heritage continue to serve as the foundation of the partnership. The External Affairs Minister said cooperation between the two neighbours has expanded significantly in recent years across sectors such as trade, investment, energy, education, infrastructure development, disaster management and cultural exchanges.
However, he stressed that both countries are now well-positioned to explore new opportunities in emerging fields that could define the next phase of bilateral engagement. “India and Nepal have the potential to elevate their partnership by embracing innovation and technology-led growth,” Jaishankar said, identifying startups, artificial intelligence, information technology and renewable energy as promising areas for future collaboration.
He also highlighted the importance of sustained coordination on border management and security, noting that the two countries maintain close cooperation along their extensive open frontier. Referring to recent regional challenges, Jaishankar said India had continued to support Nepal’s energy requirements and ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies despite disruptions arising from the ongoing situation in West Asia.
During the discussions, the minister conveyed India’s good wishes to Nepal’s Government and expressed confidence that the priorities of both nations complement each other. He said there remains substantial scope for aligning development goals and regional initiatives to generate mutual benefits.
According to Jaishankar, the present period offers a valuable opportunity to redefine and strengthen India-Nepal relations through practical cooperation and forward-looking partnerships. He expressed optimism that the talks would help unlock fresh opportunities and advance shared objectives.
Reaffirming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to deepening ties with Nepal, Jaishankar said India remains committed to working closely with its neighbour to promote growth, prosperity and the welfare of people on both sides of the border.
The meeting underscored the importance both governments attach to maintaining close diplomatic engagement and expanding cooperation across both traditional and emerging sectors.
In a strong endorsement of bilateral ties, Nepal’s Foreign Minister described India as Nepal’s “most important partner” and expressed gratitude for New Delhi’s support during periods of crisis.
“The relationship with India has been one of the most important in Nepal’s time of need, whether during natural disasters or during the West Asia crisis, when fuel supplies were affected. You have always been our support,” Khanal said during the meeting.
Striking a positive note amid occasional differences and lingering border disputes, the Nepalese minister emphasised Kathmandu’s commitment to building a stronger future-oriented partnership with New Delhi.
“We carry no old baggage, only a firm resolve to build a genuinely transformative relationship with our old neighbour and most important partner,” he said.
His remarks were seen as a significant signal of Nepal’s desire to strengthen engagement with India and deepen cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including connectivity, trade, energy and technology.
The exchanges between the two ministers reflected a shared determination to advance bilateral relations and harness new opportunities for cooperation in an evolving regional and global environment.
