28.5c India
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi's visit to Nepal, which begins on November 20, comes at a critical time. Nepal has decided to include contested regions—Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh—on its updated political map printed on the new 100-rupee note. This decision has heightened tensions with India, which claims the areas as part of its Uttarakhand state.
While India and Nepal have strong cultural ties, the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh tri-junction remains a source of contention, exacerbated by Nepal's recent opposition to India's Agniveer recruiting initiative for Nepalese Gurkhas.
General Dwivedi's four-day visit demonstrates India's commitment to restoring and strengthening military ties. Key areas of concentration include collaborative military training, modernization programs, and broadening the scope of the Surya Kiran exercise, which improves counterterrorism and disaster response skills.
This visit also confronts China's growing influence in Nepal, as Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative continues to impact the country's policy landscape. Despite these challenges, India continues supporting Nepal's defence modernization, training hundreds of Nepalese soldiers yearly.
Gen. Dwivedi's diplomatic efforts are intended to repair trust, strengthen military cooperation, and maintain peace in South Asia, confirming India and Nepal's long-standing collaboration in the face of geopolitical threats.