Nepal’s problematic foreign policy: Symbols without substance

Nepal's political landscape is characterized by a persistent tendency among leaders to deflect blame for failures onto foreign influence, a strategy employed to mask their own shortcomings. This pattern, evident since the dawn of democracy in 1951, involves squandering opportunities and prioritizing domestic political maneuvering over substantive development. "Most of the time, opportunities were squandered due to a lack of direction and attempts to falsify politics by pointing fingers at a foreign hand, making foreign policy a mobilising strategy to score domestic political gains, particularly at a time when the regime faced a survival crisis," the article states. This approach has historically sidetracked development agendas, particularly in the post-1960 decades, as leaders focused on consolidating power for personal ambition. The article criticizes the mixing of unclarified concepts with the practical application of foreign policy, rendering many initiatives symbolic but lacking substance. The policy of 'equidistance,' for instance, is deemed theoretically correct but practically meaningless when applied to Nepal's nuanced relationships with its powerful neighbors, India and China. Given Nepal's deep historical, economic, and cultural ties with India, maintaining a strict equidistance is unrealistic. Similarly, proposals like upgrading Nepal's status from landlocked to land-linked, suggested by China, are considered far-fetched without significant Chinese investment and a stable relationship between China and India. The article implies that Nepal's foreign policy often serves as a tool for domestic political survival rather than a strategic approach to national development and security.

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Most of the time, opportunities were squandered due to a lack of direction and attempts to falsify politics by pointing fingers at a foreign hand, making foreign policy a mobilising strategy to score domestic political gains, particularly at a time when the regime faced a survival crisis.