KATHMANDU: One year has passed since Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister of Nepal’s southern neighbor, India, for his third term. During this period, he has been invited to visit Nepal five times. For this, the government has mobilized all possible diplomatic resources. However, the Indian Prime Minister has not shown much interest in coming to Nepal this time. KP Sharma Oli, who became Prime Minister for the fourth time, has finally received a formal invitation for an official visit to India a year after taking office.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who arrived on a two-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, handed over an invitation to Prime Minister Oli for a visit to India on behalf of Modi on August 17,2025. Following the invitation, the news was also made public that Oli will go to India on September 16, 2025, and return to Nepal the next day. However, neither country has officially announced the date of the visit yet.

Interestingly, Modi did not come to Nepal despite being invited five times in the past couple of years. This is the same Modi who visited Nepal four times during his first term as Prime Minister of India.

Let’s look at the series of invitations extended to Modi in the one-year period: On June 9, 2024, Pushpa Kamal Dahal arrived in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had been elected for a third term. During the visit, Dahal, then Prime Minister and chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), extended an invitation to Modi to visit Nepal. Dahal, who returned home the next day, said at Tribhuvan International Airport, “Modi said he can only come to Nepal after attending the G7 meeting.”

Immediately after, Modi flew to Italy to participate in the G7 meeting. However, he did not fulfill his commitment to visit Nepal with Dahal. Before Dahal could fulfill his wish to welcome Modi to Nepal, the Dahal government fell. The subsequent Oli-led government also advanced efforts to bring Modi to Nepal.

On August 11, 2024, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli first extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was visiting Nepal at the time.

Subsequently, after assuming office as Foreign Minister in the Oli government, Arzu Rana Deuba visited India on August 19, 2024. During a courtesy meeting with Modi in New Delhi, she handed over the invitation letter personally sent by Prime Minister Oli.

Oli, having begun his fourth term, intended first to welcome Modi to Nepal before making a visit to India himself. While the invitation letter reached Modi, no visit or reciprocal invitation occurred at that time.

The effort to engage Modi has been persistent and far-reaching, extending beyond Kathmandu and New Delhi to even New York, USA, reflecting Nepal’s ongoing diplomatic outreach.

While participating in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Oli and Modi meet face-to-face on September 23, 2024. A discussion also takes place between the two, which was attended by high-ranking officials including Foreign Minister Rana, then-Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Misri. There too, Modi was invited to visit Nepal. After the discussion, Foreign Minister Rana said enthusiastically, “The conversation was held in a very cordial atmosphere. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-ji said he will come to Nepal soon.”

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The fifth invitation to Modi was extended in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. During the Sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok, the Prime Ministers of the two countries once again held a one-on-one discussion for half an hour. In Bangkok, Prime Minister Oli invited Modi to come to Nepal as the chief guest for the ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ program that Nepal was planning to host. However, Oli himself had made public that Modi replied he could not come because his Europe tour was already scheduled. However, while the Sagarmatha Sambaad was taking place in Nepal, Modi was not in Europe; he was in India.

It’s not that Oli didn’t invite Modi to visit Nepal in his previous term either. After Modi was elected Prime Minister of India for his second term, Oli went to New Delhi on May 30, 2019, to participate in his swearing-in ceremony. The press note issued by the Nepali embassy in New Delhi mentions that in a discussion held at Hyderabad House the next day, Oli invited Modi to visit Nepal. At that time, Oli also invited the then Indian President Ram Nath Kovind for a state visit on behalf of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Neither Modi nor Kovind accepted that invitation.

Most recently, Indian Prime Minister Modi came to Lumbini on May 16,2022, at the invitation of then-Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Modi, who came to Lumbini on Buddha Purnima, even prayed at the Mayadevi Temple with Deuba. He spent six hours in Lumbini before returning to his country. During his first term as Prime Minister, Modi came to Nepal twice for state visits, once for a formal visit, and twice to participate in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC ) and BIMSTEC summits.

It is an unwritten tradition for India to invite the Nepali Prime Minister for an official visit immediately after being elected. However, Oli received the invitation to visit India very late this time. Due to not receiving an invitation from India, Oli went on a visit to the northern neighbor China first in December, 2024. Oli’s predecessors Jhalanath Khanal, and the then-Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi were also removed from their posts without a welcome from India. “Prime Minister KP Oli is always welcome in India, but I am confident that the appropriate date for the visit will be decided by the diplomatic mechanisms of both countries through mutual groundwork,” senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Jolly, who came to Nepal in May, told Nepal News.

Diplomat Dinesh Bhattarai holds the view that Nepal is in this predicament because it has stopped being a priority for its neighbors. “Nepal’s status in the international community has declined. It has been neglected by powerful nations. That’s why even our close neighbors have stopped trusting us,” he says. “The recent lack of high-level visits is a result of that.”

When Modi was Prime Minister for the first time, he came on a two-day visit to Nepal after Bhutan, following the ‘Neighborhood First’ strategy. When he came to Nepal on August 3, 2014, not only was he given a grand welcome, but he also gave a 45-minute-long address to a joint session of Parliament. In his speech, he made big promises, including starting the highly-discussed Pancheshwar project and providing Nepal with assistance worth USD 1 billion. However, he not only failed to fulfill the promises made in his address, but he also made a ‘U-turn’ himself. “India has finally invited the Nepali Prime Minister to India. This is proof that the relationship between the two countries is not easy,” adds Bhattarai, who is also a former ambassador.

Interestingly, Modi did not come to Nepal despite being invited five times in the past couple of years. This is the same Modi who visited Nepal four times during his first term as Prime Minister of India.

Modi, who landed directly in Kathmandu from New Delhi for his first visit, arrived in Janakpur from Patna on an Indian plane on his second visit on May 1, 2018. To welcome him in Janakpur, Prime Minister Oli, then-Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, then-Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, other federal ministers, and high-ranking officials including then-Madhes Province Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut were present. Interestingly, Modi appeared in Janakpur wearing the clothes sent by Oli from Kathmandu. The same attire and gestures of Oli and Modi became quite famous. It seemed like the Oli-Modi reconciliation would take Nepal-India relations to a new height.

That situation from seven years ago has now changed. Modi has maintained a distance from Nepal, while Oli has continued his efforts to improve the relationship. Experts believe that factors such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework agreement with China during Oli’s term, the border and map dispute with India, and the change of a coalition government without India’s interest have created further rifts in the Nepal-India relationship. The government’s general expectation is that Oli’s upcoming visit to India will bring warmth to the strained relationship between the two countries.

The Modi-Oli relationship also became bitter due to Prime Minister Oli’s public and parliamentary remarks against India and his excessive inclination towards China during his third term. The meetings held in the past year, from New York to Bangkok, also did not signal an improvement in the relationship. Against this backdrop, even a visit by the presidents of the two countries has not been possible. India has not yet invited President Ram Chandra Paudel, and Indian President Droupadi Murmu has not responded to Paudel’s invitation either. Paudel invited his counterpart Murmu to visit Nepal on March 17, 2023. When Murmu called to congratulate him after being elected president, Paudel had already invited her to visit Nepal to pay homage at Pashupatinath.

Not just from India, but high-level visits from other countries have also stopped happening in Nepal recently. On October 12 to 13, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal. This was the first visit to Nepal by a Chinese Head of State in 23 years. Although there was frequent political exchange between Nepal and China before that, there have been no high-level visits from China since Xi. President Xi’s visit to Nepal was rare and highly anticipated. Not only was he given a grand welcome in Nepal, but it was also announced that the relationship between Nepal and China would be developed to the level of a ‘strategic partnership.’ During the visit, Xi made ambitious announcements, including advancing BRI projects in Nepal and providing Nepal with assistance worth 56 billion rupees. Six years have passed since Xi visited Nepal, but most of the points mentioned in the agreements and joint statements with China have not been implemented.

While China is the world’s second-largest powerful nation, India ranks fifth. Being between these two countries gives Nepal its own unique strategic importance. However, due to diplomatic incompetence, the chronic issue of frequent government changes, and instability in foreign policy, Nepal has started to be neglected by both sides. Former Minister and Maoist Centre Secretary Ganesh Shah says, “Nepal is starting to face diplomatic neglect because it is at its weakest point in history internationally. It is a matter of serious concern that our own neighbors no longer trust us.”

Indian Prime Minister Modi came to Lumbini on May 16,2022, at the invitation of then-Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Modi, who came to Lumbini on Buddha Purnima, even prayed at the Mayadevi Temple with Deuba. He spent six hours in Lumbini before returning to his country.

The permanent member nations with ‘veto power’ in the United Nations are China, America, the UK, Russia, and France. However, since 2019, not only have leaders from these privileged countries not visited Nepal, but even the heads of state or prime ministers of Nepal’s major donor nations have not come. Nepal’s major donor nations, besides India and China, are America, the UK, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland.

Just invitations, but…

Although there have been no visits from foreign dignitaries, Nepal has not stopped inviting the heads of powerful nations. In his recent term, after a long period with no invitation from India, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who turned his attention toward China, again invited northern neighbor President Xi Jinping to visit Nepal on December 3, 2024. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oli extended the invitation to Xi on behalf of President Ram Chandra Paudel. To mark the 70th year of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, President Xi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have been invited to visit Nepal in 2025. However, the visit of Xi and Li to Nepal has not yet been confirmed.

Prime Minister Oli has also had time to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is at war with Ukraine, to visit Nepal. He extended the invitation to Putin through a Russian Federation team that went to Baluwatar to meet Prime Minister Oli on May 15, 2025. Previously, the then-CPN government led by Oli had also invited Putin to visit Nepal. During a formal visit to Russia, then-Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali handed over an invitation to the Russian Foreign Minister on December 25, 2019, that then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari had sent to Putin. At that time, through Gyawali, Prime Minister Oli had also sent an invitation for the Russian Prime Minister to visit Nepal. However, that also remained just an invitation.

Proud past, neglected present

The first foreign head of state to visit Nepal since the new constitution was issued is former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. Mukherjee came to Nepal on November 2 to 4, 2016, marking the first visit by an Indian President in 18 years. Before him, RK Narayanan had made a three-day visit to Nepal in 1998. Before that, then-Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had come to Nepal in November, 1963. After the establishment of the republic, Nepal’s first President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and second President Bidya Devi Bhandari went on formal visits to India.

Along with India and China, there’s also much talk and interest in America in Nepal. Nepal’s diplomatic relations with America were established in 1947. However, even after 78 years of diplomatic ties, no American President has set foot in Nepal. Former US Vice President Spiro Agnew, however, came to Nepal in 1970. The only high-ranking American official to visit Nepal after him is then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. He came to Nepal in 2002.

From Nepal, King Mahendra visited America twice in the 1960. King Birendra also visited America in 1983. After that, Sher Bahadur Deuba visited America as Prime Minister only once in 2002. Deuba is the only Nepali Prime Minister who has had the opportunity for a formal visit to America. The American visits of other prime ministers have been limited to the United Nations General Assembly so far. Due to his decisive role in getting the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) passed by Parliament, Deuba’s visit to America was again scheduled during his most recent term as Prime Minister. However, after Nepal’s ‘State Partnership Program’ (SPP), which it had already moved forward with, was suddenly stopped, his visit was also canceled.

Along with India and China, there’s also much talk and interest in America in Nepal. Nepal’s diplomatic relations with America were established in 1947. However, even after 78 years of diplomatic ties, no American President has set foot in Nepal.

The hesitation of foreign dignitaries to come even after receiving invitations is a result of powerful nations’ neglect of Nepal. Former Member of Parliament and expert on foreign and military affairs, Deepak Prakash Bhatta, says, “Even if there were no high-level visits from powerful nations, it would have been good if there were fruitful works. But recently, not only have visits stopped, but fruitful work in the diplomatic sector hasn’t happened either.”

The story of the powerful nation, the UK, is different. The list of visits to Nepal from the UK is long. Then-British Queen Elizabeth II visited Nepal twice, in 1960 and 1986. Due to the old diplomatic ties and the contributions of Gurkha soldiers between Nepal and the UK, Nepal’s relationship with the British royal family has been strong from the beginning. That’s why Nepal is a preferred destination for members of the British royal family. Since the visits of British royalty—then-Princess Diana in 1993 and then-Prince (now King) Charles in 1998—Nepal has continued to host members of the British royal family, a trend that has persisted for the past 25 years. Since the visits of British royalty—then-Princess Diana in 1993 and then-Prince Charles, now King Charles, in 1998—Nepal has continued to welcome members of the British royal family, a trend that has persisted for the past 25 years. During this period, other royals—including then-Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and then-Prince Harry—have also visited Nepal.

The website of the Nepali embassy in the UK states that since the establishment of diplomatic relations with the UK, around 50 high-level delegations, including members of the royal family, military officials, members of parliament, and ministers, have visited Nepal.

From Nepal, most members of the royal family, including former King Mahendra, Birendra, and Gyanendra, have visited the UK since diplomatic relations were established. While then-Prime Minister Jung Bahadur’s visit to the UK during the Rana era is well-known, among the prime ministers after 1989, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Manmohan Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and KP Sharma Oli have visited the UK. Nepal’s diplomatic relationship with the UK began in 1816. However, no British Prime Minister has ever visited Nepal so far.

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In the past, high-level delegations from our northern neighbor China also frequently visited Nepal. It can be seen that guests from China have been visiting Nepal since ancient times, a practice that continues to this day. The first high-level visit to Nepal from China was by then-Prime Minister Zhou Enlai 1957. After him, then-Deputy Prime Minister Deng Xiaoping 1978, then-President Li Xiannian 1984, then-Premier Li Peng 1998, then-President Jiang Zemin 1996, then-Premier Zhu Rongji 2001, and then-Premier Wen Jiabao 2012, came to Nepal. From Nepal, the last three kings and most prime ministers have also been found to have visited China. Since 2014, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has visited Nepal three times.

Similarly, 50 years have passed without a high-level exchange of visits between Nepal and the powerful nation of Russia. While the then-Chairman of the Soviet Union, Kliment Voroshilov, came to Nepal in 1976, before that, then-King Mahendra 1958 and Birendra 1976 had received state hospitality in Russia. After the Russia-Ukraine war, Nepal’s diplomatic relationship with Russia has become difficult. Russia is unhappy with Nepal because while Nepali youths were fighting against Ukraine on Russia’s side, the government publicly released a statement in favor of Ukraine. Nilambar Acharya, a former ambassador to Russia, says, “Nepal’s relationship with Russia used to be very close. However, the relationship between Russia and Nepal has now become weak.”

Nepal’s diplomatic relationship with France, a permanent member of the United Nations, is also old. However, it has been 42 years since a French head of state visited Nepal. Then-President François Mitterrand came to Nepal in 1983. Since then, no French dignitary has come to Nepal. From Nepal, then-King Mahendra 1966, and Birendra 1994, went on visits to France. The Nepali Prime Ministers who have visited France are Girija Prasad Koirala and KP Sharma Oli. When Man Mohan Adhikari was Prime Minister, he entered France on his way back home after completing a visit to Denmark.

It’s also been a long time since high-level visits from Germany have stopped in Nepal. Then-German Chancellor Helmut Kohl came to Nepal in 1987, and records show that then-German President Roman Herzog came to Nepal in 1996. Since then, there have been no high-level visits from Germany.

Since the visits of British royalty—then-Princess Diana in 1993 and then-Prince Charles, now King Charles, in 1998—Nepal has continued to welcome members of the British royal family, a trend that has persisted for the past 25 years.

The neglect by powerful nations can cause damage to Nepal not only diplomatically but also economically. This also poses a risk of a decrease in the size of foreign investment (loans and grants), bilateral trade, and development assistance coming to Nepal. Former Member of Parliament Bhatta adds, “Due to the changed international balance of power, Nepal is no longer a top priority for foreign countries. This is having a negative impact on foreign aid, investment and bilateral trade among other things coming to Nepal. This is a matter of serious concern.”

The website of the President’s Office states that during the six-year period from 1960 to 1966, six heads of state, one prime minister, and one prince from around the world made state visits to Nepal. During this period, Nepal welcomed then-British Queen Elizabeth II, then-Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, then-Israeli President Zalman Shazar, then-Pakistani President Ayub Khan, then-Japanese Prince Akihito, and then-Burmese (Myanmar) Prime Minister U Nu as state guests. The arrival of so many distinguished guests in Nepal at that time was a significant diplomatic success for the country.