With India's undeclared embargo, the goodwill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was able to earn during his twin visits to Nepal last year has quickly evaporated. When the need of the hour is better understanding, trust and cooperation between the two close neighbors, how could a statesman like Modi act in ways so as to jeopardize his own country's security and development? It is hard to understand.
It might now be absurd to think of a revival of the old design of one of modern India's founding fathers, Vallabhbhai Patel, who had proposed absorbing Nepal into India and thereby extend Indian influence to Tibet to directly confront China. But the recent aggressive posture of Indian Prime Minister on Nepal can only be taken as arrogance born of power and wealth. The sooner Prime Minister Modi rethinks his aggressive diplomacy in Nepal, the better for peace, stability and security of the entire South Asian region, including that of India.
Every moment wasted could be costly for Nepal, too, as it is being deliberately pushed into a humanitarian crisis. India, it seems, is trying to teach a lesson to Nepali leaders for not obeying its diktat on the new constitution. Every nation, big or small, has the right not only to protect its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity but also to chart its own system of governance that is best suited to its soil with, of course, regard to human values.
If our neighbors like China and India can chart out their development paths by adopting vastly different political systems, why can't Nepal do the same? No country has the right to interfere in internal affairs of another country on such matters. Did Nepal ever try to involve itself in an indirect and invisible way to the detriment of any of its neighbors, as India is doing in Nepal right now? Why then is India unnecessarily poking its nose in Nepal and imposing hardship on Nepali people for no fault of their own?
Nepal is only trying to exercise its right as an independent and sovereign nation but also as a landlocked state that has the right to access to the sea through India, as per international conventions accepted and ratified by both India and Nepal. As far as Nepal is concerned, it does not matter even if India decides to close all its border points with Nepal except one through which such third-country trade is allowed. But India cannot completely block Nepal's access to sea. In that case, there is no option for Nepal but to reduce its dependence on India, and to look to diversify its trade and commerce with other countries in the region—and beyond.
The four-month-long Indian blockade on the entry of the essential commodities like fuel, medicine and daily necessities has greatly added to people's hardship. We might soon have a full-blown humanitarian crisis in our hands. The blockade has also halted the process of reconstruction of homes and other infrastructures destroyed by earthquakes in the first half of 2015. The blockade, in fact, has been a cruel joke for earthquake victims.
India should be mindful of the fact that if the current stalemate with India continues, it will further alienate Nepali people from India. This protracted struggle between India and Nepal could also be against India's interest. How long will, for instance, the Nepalis serving in the Indian Army restrain themselves when their kith and kin back home are dying because of an inhumane blockade? How can India act in such an irresponsible way and yet hope that the Nepali citizens serving in the Indian Army will continue to be obedient? And what about the millions of Nepalis now living and working in India?
Due to the unstable situation in the Tarai belt, there is now a real danger of terrorist activities being orchestrated in India from Nepal, and India will only have itself to blame. Nepal could soon turn into a citadel for terrorists as its youth get frustrated and embrace extremism. This will directly affect not only India but also China and other South Asian countries. Should this not be a matter of concern for the international community, particularly the United States and the European Union? I believe the United Nations is the proper body to speak on behalf of Nepal and try to settle the current dispute with India.
Nepal is strategically important to both India and China. It is not only in the interest of Nepal but also in the interest of other South Asian countries that China and India reconcile with their bitter past, and work together to bring about an Asian age. Nepal does not want to be a bone of contention between these two growing powers, but rather a strong and reliable link between them. As China has been dealing with Nepal in a dignified manner, not only by keeping itself away from its internal affairs, but also by extending every kind of assistance in difficult times during the past 60 years, why does India also not follow the same path?
Timely corrections of errors are not only necessary but also urgent. The Indian government should realize its mistakes and look to correct them at the earliest.
Nepal should tell India that it is capable of solving its problems while at the same time committing to accommodate genuine Indian concerns in Nepal. Under all circumstances Nepal will have to stand up to India as a proud, independent country with a glorious history. It is upon our current political leadership that the responsibility of safeguarding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity now firmly rests. But are they up for this important duty?
The author is former prime minister of Nepal