India and China are major trading partners of Nepal, which is sandwiched between the giant Asian rivals. But India sees no merit in Nepal’s complaints that it was being “choked” and deprived of essential supplies. “In that spirit, we will hold talks with the Indian leadership”, said Thapa.
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Nepal has accused India of imposing the blockade on its side of the border to force Kathmandu to listen to the demands of those living in the Terai region.
Madhesi ethnic groups protests against the new constitution blocked the Indian border and by doing so they stopped the country fuel supplies, creating a black market for gasoline and other goods.
In a reach-out by Nepal’s new Prime Minister K P Oli, he will be sending Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa to New Delhi for consultations from October 17 to 19.
BIRGANJ, Nepal (AP) – The line of parked cargo trucks stretches at least 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the Nepalese border. If the blockade from that side is removed and if the protesters end their demonstrations, our truckers are waiting to go inside and deliver the supply that Nepal needs.
Giving the latest position on truck movement, he said in the past 24 hours, 733 commercial vehicles moved through seven crossing points.
On the supplies of commodities to Nepal from the Indian side which were getting affected due to protests there, Swarup said Indian trucks are waiting to enter Nepal, which would happen once the political situation on the Nepal side becomes more conducive.
Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rajesh Kazi Shrestha said: “Opening of Kerung border has brought relief”.
“By 12 noon, 2,500 trucks are still queued up, mainly at Raxaul, where the number is between 1,500-2,000, and Sanauli where number is approximately 750”, he added.
“The China-Nepal Jilong border crossing that was damaged during the Nepal natural disaster at present has reopened”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.
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Thapa made the request through the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae by calling him at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Wednesday.
