“ Delighted to meet Nepal PM Mr. KP Oli in Tianjin. India's relations with Nepal are deep-rooted and very special.” These are the exact words written by Indian PM Narendra Modi in his official social media post after he met with Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in China.

Yes indeed, India’s relations with Nepal are deep-rooted and very special, as PM Modi has mentioned, but the sad reality of the time is that deep rooted, special relationship is a relation without trust. This situation of mistrust has reached its climax after India signed an agreement with China, where both countries agreed to use the Nepali territory of Lipulekh as a trade route without even considering taking Nepal into confidence. In reality, both India and China are equally guilty for this act of ignorance towards their closest and friendliest neighbor. Yet with considering the deep-rooted and special relationship between Nepal and India, Nepal has the right to be sad as well as mad with India for what has been done, because at least during this time, India didn’t even think about Nepal and its sentiment while it was signing an agreement with China .

How can the closest neighbors ignore the concern and rightful claim of Nepal on its historically established territory, and didn’t even consult while their territory was a part of an agreement?

More importantly, how come India forgets the deep-rooted special relationship of India with Nepal while it was signing an agreement with its definite adversary? Even after this debacle created in Indo-Nepal relationship based on the territorial dispute over Lipulek, both countries have no choice other to come together and find a way out and move to a better future and more stronger relationship.

As India’s veteran diplomat K.V. Rajan along with his coauthor Atul K. Thakur, have written on a book ‘Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India–Nepal Relations’ that Indian policy of ‘Neghborhood first’ ( which is formulated by PM Narendra Modi himself ) needs to be perceived by the neighboring country of India as a living day to day Indian foreign policy priority not just a slogan .

Even though his excellency K.V. Rajan has emphasized what India must do to create an ambiance of mutual trust with Nepal, there is no need to mention that creating trust can only be achieved through the respective roles played by both countries. Yet when there is pre-existing mistrust and misunderstanding, one who caused it must do something to eliminate the mistrust and erase the misunderstanding, and that part must be done by India at this time. I have written in the past and would like to repeat it here again that Nepal has the right to claim its ownership in Lipulek as long as it has all the historical evidence to support its claim. Therefore, Nepal will continue to claim its ownership of Lipulek, but Nepal will never hesitate to facilitate its neighbors by providing access to its territory if doing so serves the interests of its neighbor and won’t diminish its own interests at the same time .

So if India and China want to do the trade using Lipulek, then all they have to do is include Nepal in their discussion and make Nepal a part of that agreement. By doing that, it will actually become a trilateral agreement between India, China, and Nepal and will serve the interests of all three countries. Doing this will be beneficial for all but harm no one. So let’s do this without any delay. So, at the end, let me remind the Right Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he has always been nice to Nepal through his words and often been helpful and kind to Nepal and Nepali with his actions as an Indian Prime Minister.

So now, as the Indo-China agreement of trade agreement has hurt Nepal and the feelings of the Nepali people overall, let me also request RT. Honorable Modi to walk the talk and prove once again through actions that India’s relationship with Nepal is indeed deep-rooted and special. PM Modi, if you are only ready to respect the fact that Nepal’s claim of its ownership at Lipulek isn’t baseless, instead of Nepal having some credible evidence to prove it, then officials of India and Nepal can sit, talk, and find a win-win solution for both countries.