India extends official visit invitation to Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah

India has confirmed that it has extended an official invitation to Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah for a visit, although no dates have been announced. The confirmation came during a regular media briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal. The development adds a formal step to a diplomatic process that has been building through channels between the two governments.

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Jaiswal said the invitation had been extended to Shah, but gave no further details on timing or the proposed programme. The report says the invitation was sent through diplomatic channels to the Nepalese prime minister's office. It also notes that India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, had previously been expected to visit Kathmandu in May to hand over the invitation in person, but that trip was deferred.

The invitation follows earlier public remarks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who congratulated Shah after his election in March and said he looked forward to working closely with him to strengthen India-Nepal friendship and cooperation. The report says Shah had initially indicated he would avoid foreign travel during the first 100 days of his term. It also says there have been reports that he has been reluctant to meet visiting foreign officials below the rank of foreign minister.

The move is significant because India and Nepal share a long and closely managed relationship shaped by geography, trade, movement of people and political contact. The report says New Delhi is seeking to recalibrate ties with Nepal after strain during the previous Oli-led government. In that context, a formal invitation to the new Nepalese leader suggests an effort to reset engagement with a stable and full-majority government in Kathmandu.

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The article also points to preparatory diplomacy beyond the formal invitation itself. It says Shah is now expected to meet the Indian ambassador in Kathmandu this week, although that has not been confirmed by the ministry. Separately, reports cited in the row say Shah's political adviser, Kumar Ben, travelled to India to help lay the groundwork for the visit.

Those steps indicate that both sides are still working through the practical and political details. What remains unclear is when the visit will take place and what level of engagement it will include. The ministry has not confirmed any itinerary, and the Nepalese side has not publicly set out its position on timing.

For now, the key point is that the invitation has been formally extended, while the next stage will depend on further diplomatic coordination and any decision by Shah's office.

#India #Nepal #BalendraShah #MinistryofExternalAffairs #diplomacy

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