Kathmandu, Jan. 5 -- Recent years have seen a sea change in Nepal's foreign policy. The KP Sharma Oli administration, in the wake of the disastrous Indian blockade of 2015, has attempted to break with Nepal's reliance on the southern neighbour, going to lengths to court Beijing. Nepal has signed up to China's flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and also forged a transit and transport treaty. Then, in October, President Xi Jinping visited Nepal, the first visit by a sitting Chinese president in 23 years, eliciting a newfound fascination with the northern neighbour.

But things are not always as simple as they appear, especially in geopolitics. And so, it is about time to speak to someone who can parse what is currently happening.

I me...