New Delhi: The new Balendra Shah government in Nepal has extended an invitation to the Government of India for Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to the country, and both sides are working to fix dates. No date had been confirmed yet, it is learnt.
“The new Nepal government has issued an invitation for a visit by Foreign Secretary (Vikram) Misri. There is no meeting to postpone, as no confirmed date for the visit exists yet,” a person familiar with the matter told ThePrint.
A second person familiar with the matter confirmed this, pointing to talks between New Delhi and Kathmandu on potential dates. This second person said Kathmandu indicated certain “favourable” dates and New Delhi was still considering the proposal.
Media reports from Nepal had indicated Misri would likely begin a two-day visit to Kathmandu starting 11 May.
Nepal has recently undergone a major political change, with Balen Shah assuming power in Kathmandu following his landslide electoral victory in the general elections held on 5 March 2026.
Meanwhile, India has invited Nepal to the International Big Cat Alliance meeting scheduled for 1 June in New Delhi.
A high-level delegation is expected to represent Nepal for the meeting, which could potentially mark the first major political visit to India by the new government in Kathmandu. Nepal is a member of the IBCA.
Positive momentum remains between the two sides regarding advancing bilateral ties. However, in recent days, challenges have emerged.
Nepal has objected to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra announced by India and China, which will see at least 500 pilgrims travel through the Lipulekh pass.
Kathmandu claims the pass, along with two other Indian territories, and has urged both New Delhi and Beijing not to use the Lipulekh pass.
India has consistently rejected Nepal’s claims on the territory.
In a 3 May statement, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, earlier rejected Nepal’s claims, pointing out that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra had been using the Lipulekh Pass since 1954.
“The Yatra through this route has been going on for decades. This is not a new development,” said Jaiswal.
He added: “As regards territorial claims, India has consistently maintained that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable.”
Jaiswal maintained that India “remains open” to discussing all issues concerning India’s bilateral relationship with Nepal, including for “resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy”.
Prime Minister Balen Shah is expected to travel to India after “consultations” between New Delhi and Kathmandu, Shishir Khanal, Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Minister, said last month.
Khanal confirmed that India had invited the new Prime Minister of Nepal for a visit to New Delhi.
Khanal earlier met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius on 10 April.
At the time, the two ministers focused on strengthening the long-standing cooperation between the two countries. That was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Khanal since the latter assumed his post in March this year.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)