As close neighbours, India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterized by open borders and d eep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. There has been a l ong tradition of free movement of people across the borders. Nepal has an area of 147 ,181 Sq. Kms. and a population of 29 million. It shares a border of over 1850 Kms to the south with five Indian States - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttar akhand and in the north with the Tibet autonomous region of the People's Republic of China.Relations between India and Nepal have traditionally been close since ancient times as a result of geographical location and common religious, linguistic and cultural identities that overlap the two countries. India's politically fragile northern neighbour is closely watching events unfold in the Asian giant to the south following the landslide election victory of Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party led by Narendra Modi. Mindful of the key role played by India in its political transition and New Delhi's immense leverage in the country, observers in Nepal are seeking clues to likely policy in the region.
