Escalating Chinese Dominance in Nepal: A Byproduct of India’s Diplomatic Failure?

Abstract

The Indo-Nepal relationship is indeed meandering through a very critical phase. The erstwhile bond which the two nations have shared is now on the verge of a fracture, largely catalyzed by India's diplomatic failure in Nepal. In other words the Indian diplomats were unable to strategize it’s international policies to promote and maintain peace in the land locked country, which can be imputed to India's endogenous tactical failure in Nepal. It becomes evident from the inherent contradiction that subsists within India's foreign policy and its’ failure to maintain its’ internal stability vis-à-vis the Maoists. On one side India virtually waged a war against the Maoist activities within its’ polity, but at the same time it grossly failed in inhibiting Nepali Maoist connections with the like minded Indian Maoist Organizations. The threat lies with the fact that the political impasse between India and Nepal can be effectively utilized by China, to serve their own strategic and diplomatic interests. This discourse will constitute a critical analysis of India’s foreign policy in Nepal. In pursuance of the same the paper will strive to present a comprehensive forecast of the impending strategic threats which India might confront from China in the long-run.