Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane on Friday, 5 June said he extended formal invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin to visit Nepal, following a five-day official trip to India at Nabin's invitation. Lamichhane made the announcement upon his return to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, describing both leaders as 'very positive' about the proposed visit.

Key Developments from Lamichhane's India Visit

During his five-day stay in India, Lamichhane held meetings with Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and other senior BJP leaders, as well as Indian government officials. The visit was notable given that the proposed trip of Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah to New Delhi had become uncertain, making Lamichhane's engagement a significant diplomatic signal.

Speaking at the airport, Lamichhane said, 'During this visit, I invited both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President (Nabin) to visit Nepal. Both of them are very positive about visiting Nepal. Once the timing is suitable, the visit will certainly happen.'

What Was Discussed with Indian Leaders

Lamichhane described his conversations with Prime Minister Modi as transparent and focused on economic cooperation. 'All of our conversations were transparent and centered on the agenda of prosperity,' he said. 'Nepal-India relations become truly deep only when we walk together on the path of economic prosperity.'

He added that the two sides discussed a broad framework of cooperation spanning sports and information technology, and signalled a forward-looking approach: 'Without carrying the burden of past policy weaknesses or delays, the current government is ready to move forward through development diplomacy.'

On PM Balendra Shah's India Visit

When pressed on when Prime Minister Balendra Shah would travel to New Delhi, Lamichhane was measured. 'The Prime Minister's visit will be decided according to timing and circumstances,' he said, indicating that diplomatic priorities would govern the timeline rather than any fixed schedule.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Already in New Delhi

Separately, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal arrived in New Delhi on his first official visit for a three-day trip. The two sides are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, with Nepali officials indicating that enhancing connectivity will be a central focus. The back-to-back diplomatic engagements signal a concerted push by Kathmandu to deepen ties with New Delhi at multiple levels.

Lamichhane also noted that the reception extended to his delegation at the BJP headquarters was symbolic beyond the personal: 'That welcome was not just for me personally or for my party; it was an honour for Nepal and the Nepali people.' With both countries signalling openness to high-level exchanges, the next few weeks could prove consequential for the trajectory of Nepal-India bilateral relations.