Nepal, Feb. 13 -- At the recently held Kantipur conclave, many speakers dwelt on various subjects, including Nepal's foreign policy. There was a call to look beyond tradition and 'abstract' ideas, particularly concerning Nepal-India relations, suggesting that new 'theorisation' is required to free itself from old traditions and 'abstract terms'. This would enable Nepal to relate itself to 'economic and strategic domains'.

A speaker from India stated that even if India was concerned about Nepal's engagements with China and the United States, given the sensitivity of the open border between the two countries, it was imperative for India to adopt 'managed pragmatism'. Such an approach has been necessitated by 'hydropower cooperation, trade ...