On June 6, 2026, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to discuss enhancing bilateral relations. Khanal emphasized Nepal’s commitment to building a transformative partnership with India, stating that the country does not carry any old baggage against its neighbor. He highlighted the highest priority placed on the relationship and expressed readiness to engage substantively and purposefully at the highest possible levels. Khanal also thanked India for its support during the West Asia crisis, including fuel and fertilizer supplies. The talks focused on trade and economic cooperation, cross-border connectivity, energy partnership, water resources management, and people-to-people ties. Both ministers agreed to resolve ongoing boundary issues in the spirit of understanding and friendship, with plans for an early meeting of the existing mechanism on border management. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to working with Nepal for mutual progress and prosperity, emphasizing the strong complementarities between the objectives outlined by Nepal’s new government and India’s initiatives in the neighborhood. The discussions also covered development cooperation, connectivity, energy, education, health, capacity building, digital initiatives, culture, and sports.
The meeting between Khanal and Jaishankar marked a significant step in strengthening the bilateral ties between India and Nepal. Both leaders acknowledged the deep-rooted historical and cultural connections that bind the two nations and expressed a shared desire to build a modern, development-oriented partnership. Khanal’s visit was the first by a Nepalese minister since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah in March 2026, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration and cooperation.
During the talks, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the India-Nepal relationship, describing it as “very special” and built on a strong foundation of vibrant people-to-people ties, cross-border connectivity, and shared cultural and religious traditions. He noted that the relationship is anchored by shared trust, goodwill, and mutual benefit, with cooperation steadily expanding in trade, investment, energy, education, disaster response, and culture. Jaishankar also highlighted India’s support to Nepal during the West Asia crisis, ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies to the country.
Khanal, in his opening remarks, expressed Nepal’s highest priority on its relationship with India and readiness for substantive and purposeful engagement. He stated, “We carry no old baggage and have only firm resolve for a genuinely transformative relationship with our close neighbour and the most important partner.” Khanal further described India and Nepal as stakeholders of a proud ancient civilization, emphasizing the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including development cooperation, energy, hydropower development, education, health, capacity building, digital technology, culture, and sports. Both sides recognized the strong complementarities between their development goals and expressed a commitment to advancing ties in newer domains such as startups, artificial intelligence, information technology, and renewable energy. Following the meeting, India and Nepal expanded cooperation in digital infrastructure, including linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system with Nepal’s National Payments Interface to enable smoother cross-border remittances.
Regarding the ongoing boundary issues, both ministers agreed to resolve them in the spirit of understanding and friendship. They discussed the ongoing work on the boundary by joint field survey teams and agreed to an early meeting of the existing mechanism on border management. This collaborative approach aims to address and resolve the boundary issues through mutual understanding and cooperation.
The meeting between Khanal and Jaishankar reflects a positive trajectory in India-Nepal relations, with both nations committed to building a transformative partnership based on trust, goodwill, and mutual benefit. The discussions have laid the groundwork for future high-level visits and collaborations, marking the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
In conclusion, the meeting between Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on June 6, 2026, was a significant step towards enhancing bilateral relations. Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to building a transformative partnership, focusing on areas such as trade, economic cooperation, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people ties. Their discussions also addressed ongoing boundary issues, with a mutual commitment to resolving them through understanding and friendship. The expanded cooperation in digital infrastructure and the emphasis on newer domains like startups and renewable energy highlight the forward-looking approach of both nations. This meeting sets the stage for future collaborations and high-level visits, marking the beginning of a new chapter in India-Nepal relations.
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