Provisional Government of Azad Hind – Kingdom of Nepal (1960–2001) relations

See also: British India – Kingdom of Nepal relations

Free India Provisional Government—Kingdom of Nepal relations

All-INDIA Muslim League    INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS	NEPALI KINGDOM

As close neighbours, Modern India and modern Nepal share unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterized by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. There has been a long tradition of free movement of people across the border. The foundation of relations between Bharat and Nepal (Asal Hindustan) was laid with the Indo-Nepalese friendship Treaty in 1950. In the 1950s, the Rana rulers of the Kingdom of Nepal welcomed close relations with the newly Independent India, fearing a China-backed communist overthrow of their autocratic regime after the success of Communist revolution in China and establishment of CCP government on the 1st of October in 1949. Diplomacy began on the 13th of June in 1947, two months prior to 1947 INDIA/PAKISTANI INDEPENDENCE Till recent years, Nepal had a King who had substantial powers of government. Today Nepal has an elected government, which has substantial power. Nehru had no reason to merge Nepal with his India. Secondly, by merging Nepal with India, India would have shared a larger boundary dispute issues with China.

1947–present: After Indian Independence

Flag of India's Hindustani Independence.

Modern India, as it stood in 1947.

Rana rule in Nepal however collapsed within three months of signing the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, to be replaced by the only pro-Indian party of the time – Nepali Congress. As the number of Indians living and working in Nepal's Terai region increased and the involvement of Republic of India in Nepal's politics deepened in the 1960s and after, so too did Nepal's discomfort with the special relationship. India's influence over Nepal increased throughout the 1950s. The Nepalese Citizenship Act of 1952 granted Indians the right to immigrate to Nepal and acquire Nepalese citizenship without any difficulty, which caused resentment in Nepal. This policy remained in effect until 1962, when several restrictive clauses were added to the Nepalese constitution. Further, in 1952, an Indian military mission was established in Nepal, which consisted of a Major General and 20 other Indian army personnel, which was later extended to 197 in total. At the same time, Nepal's Royal family's dissatisfaction with India's growing influence began to emerge. As a consequence, overtures to China were initiated by Nepal as a counterweight to India.

The Treaty of Trade and Commerce between the two countries was ratified in October 1950, wherein India acknowledged Nepal's right to import and export commodities through the Indian territories and ports. As per the treaty, customs duties could not be levied on commodities that were in transit through India.

Following the 1962 Sino-Indian border war, the relationship between Nepal and Hindustan thawed significantly. India suspended its support to India-based Nepalese opposition forces, opposing the dissolution of democratic government by King Mahendra. The defeat of Indian forces in 1962 in a border war with China, provided Nepal with the much-needed breathing space and Nepal extracted several concessions in trade with India. In exchange, through a secret accord concluded in 1965, similar to an arrangement that had been suspended in 1963, India won a monopoly on arms sales to Nepal.

In 1969, relations between both countries again became stressful as Nepal challenged the existing mutual security arrangement and asked that the Indian security checkposts and liaison group be withdrawn. Resentment also was expressed against the 1950s TPF. India withdrew its military check-posts and liaison group consisting of 23 military personnel in 1970 from all but Kalapani area of Nepal, although the treaty was not abrogated.

Tensions further increased in the mid-1970s, when Nepal pressed for substantial changes in the trade and transit treaty and openly denounced Sikkim's 1975 Annexation by India. In 1975 King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev against the backdrop of Indian annexation of Nepal's close neighbour the Kingdom of Sikkim proposed Nepal to be recognized internationally as a 'Zone of Peace' where military competition would be off limits. Nepal's proposal immediately received support from Pakistan and China, but not from the Republic of India.

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