India wary as China takes up Doklam issue with Nepal Sachin Parashar | TNN | Updated: Aug 6, 2017, 05:17AM IST WhatsappFacebookGoogle PlusTwitterEmailLinkedinSMS Sushma Swaraj will visit Nepal next week for the BIMSTEC meeting HIGHLIGHTS Chinese deputy chief of mission discussed the Doklam issue with his Nepal counterpart India has so far not made it public whether or not it has briefed foreign missions Sushma Swaraj will visit Nepal next week for the BIMSTEC meeting NEW DELHI: China's diplomatic blitz to counter India's position on Doklam standoff high up in the Himalayas continues, with its mission here briefing Nepal authorities about the dispute. China's decision to discuss the issue with Nepal is significant because, first, India shares a tri-junction with Nepal and China in a disputed area and, second, Nepal is one country in the neighbourhood India is struggling to maintain its sphere of influence. Diplomatic sources told TOI that the Chinese deputy chief of mission discussed the Doklam issue with his newly-appointed Nepal counterpart in a "courtesy meeting" and explained Beijing's position. Beijing continues to maintain that for any meaningful dialogue Indian troops must withdraw from Doklam. Chinese diplomats have held similar meetings with Nepal officials in Kathmandu and Beijing. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE INDIA Lalu, family may face more benami property heat INDIA Morale of UP police has gone up since Yogi became CM: BJP ENTERTAINMENT Pic: Priyanka enjoys her sailing trip in NYC Unlike China, India has so far not made it public whether or not it has briefed foreign missions about its position on the issue. It did discuss the issue with US diplomats though a few weeks ago. While Nepal has not sought any briefing from Indian authorities yet, there's a growing concern within Nepal intelligentsia that a prolonged standoff involving India, China and Bhutan will not be in Kathmandu's interest. Nepal, in fact, has two tri-junctions with China and India — Lipulekh in western Nepal and Jhinsang Chuli in eastern part. Lipulekh has, in the past, been the cause of insecurity in Nepal, located in the disputed Kalapani area that is claimed by both India and Nepal. India's decision to expand trade with China through the Lipulekh pass in 2015, during the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China, created a furore in Nepal with its parliament demanding that the two countries drop the mention of Lipulekh from the Sino-Indian joint statement as it was against all international norms. Nepal parliament had then also sought to know if the agreement could undermine Nepal's sovereignty and its territorial integrity. Kathmandu will also see high-level back-to-back visits from India and China this month. While foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Nepal next week for the BIMSTEC meeting, Chinese vice-premier Wang Yang will arrive on August 14 for a meeting with top leaders. Both Swaraj and Wang are expected to touch upon the Doklam dispute. Swaraj is also expected to carry out the groundwork for Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India later this month. There's a strong anti-India constituency in Nepal and Indian officials are mindful of attempts made by supporters for former PM K P Sharma Oli to paint India as the aggressor in the Doklam dispute. Wang's visit will also be closely followed as he is expected to follow up on Nepal's decision earlier this year to officially join China's One-Belt-One-Road initiative despite reservations expressed by New Delhi. RELATED STORIES Australia raises Doklam standoff with India Our restraint has a bottom line: China on Doklam standoff Doval's Beijing visit key to ease Doklam standoff: Chinese analyst India should 'conscientiously withdraw' to end Doklam standoff: Chinese foreign minister Doklam standoff: India must withdraw troops to avoid 'serious consequences', says Chinese state media Don't use Doklam standoff as policy tool to achieve political targets, China tells India TOP COMMENT When india going to BAN all imports from china .... ? Do it . This is the way the civilian govt will stand with brave Indian armed forces.Jai Hind. Mav VIEW ALL 70 COMMENTS ADD COMMENT Bookmark or read stories offline - Get latest news & live updates on the go on your smartphone with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. NEXT STORY This project wants to change how world views Black-Indian couples FROM AROUND THE WEB Simple Box Lets You Watch Everything For FreeTVFrog3 Tips That Every Diabetic Should KnowDiabetes EducatorsBitcoin Is About to Rocket-Up…AGAIN. Here's How You Cou..Money Morning Australia9 Adventures To Have If You'Re A Girl Who'D Rather Catch F..Student Flights MORE FROM TIMES OF INDIA No dispute with Bhutan in Doklam area: China China talks tough, but hope of Doklam thaw FROM OUR PARTNER PUBLICATIONS 10 Of Sydney's Finest Dining ExperiencesFlight Centre5 Australian Dating Sites that Actually WorkTop 10 Australian Dating Sites Next Story INDIA AA This project wants to change how world views Black-Indian couples NAOMI CANTON | TNN | 3 hours ago WhatsappFacebookGoogle PlusTwitterEmailLinkedinSMS Something Jonah Batambuze still can't get over is how his Indian wife's family broke down when they discovered she was dating a black man. "Everyone was crying, like there was a death in the family," he said — still in disbelief — his arm wrapped around his wife Swetha, at a London pub. "I think for them it was the unknown," he added. This experience, clubbed with the attack on Nigerians in Noida earlier this year, is why Jonah created the hashtag #BlindianProject for black and Indian couples from across the world to share their photos and videos on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter. He was hoping to normalise these relationships and encourage other bi-racial couples. So far, 13 'Blindian' couples from the US and UK have taken part. "While the media has covered incidents of violence, they haven't done much to inspire critical thinking around racism against Africans in India," said Jonah. "It forced me to reflect on how trailblazing our unions are." Despite the initial disapproval, Jonah, a 38-year-old American IT consultant, proposed to Swetha and they had an Indian wedding in the UK in 2007. Jonah was born in Chicago to land-owning Ugandan immigrant parents — his father was a cardiologist, who had fled his homeland during the Idi Amin regime. He met Swetha in 2001 in Ireland and moved to the UK in 2007. Swetha is an ophthalmologist who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The 36-year-old moved to the UK as a toddler when her parents emigrated to work as doctors. The couple lives in Peterborough with their two children, aged three and one. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE WORLD Vatican official says the Pope 'loves China' INDIA BJP member on Censor Board demands chief Nihalani's dismissal LIFESTYLE How to do your pedicure at home News of their relationship created shock waves in India when Swetha's grandmother saw a Facebook picture of her then 25-year-old granddaughter sitting on Jonah's knee. "She rang my mother from India in the middle of the night. She was crying and my aunties and uncles were also crying on the phone," Swetha said. "There is a stereotype of a black man with big gold chains and his pants down. They didn't feel the black family would welcome Indian culture and there was also fear because they had not seen it done before." But Swetha's mind was made up. "Her mother kept asking me how are you going to raise the children and pulling out tissues," Jonah recalled. "He listened to her fears and tried to put her mind at ease," Swetha interjected. Eventually, her family came around. In contrast, Jonah's parents' only concern was if her family would accept him as there was not much mixing with Indians in Uganda. "Of all the girlfriends I have dated, she was the only one who showed respect to my parents," he said. So how are they treated in public? "In the US and the UK, black girls don't look happy that I am with him," Swetha said. "We went to an Asian nightclub in America and everyone stared." In India, Jonah has not faced overt racism. "In Guntur people talk to me and are just intrigued. Some of them may have never seen a black person," he said. He agrees there's clearly a problem. "There is some kind of dark skin complex," said Jonah. "Even people from the South are discriminated against. It's not just outwardly to Africans, it is internal." This, despite the fact that Ugandans and Indians have a lot in common. "Even our wedding rituals are the same," said Jonah, describing a wedding 'game' where a Ugandan groom goes to his future bride's house with six cows and is asked to return with eight. "We even eat roti and samosas," he added. However, the couple has had some cultural differences. For example, Jonah would like Swetha to be more upfront with his mother if she does not like her advice. But Swetha was raised to respect elders. "I have a certain boundary with them — it's just the way I have been brought up," Swetha said. She also feels uncomfortable being physically affectionate with Jonah in front of her parents and other people. On the plus side, they have both got to travel and understand each other's culture and their children are growing up with the best of both worlds, learning Lagunda, Telugu and English. "I am hoping they will be trilingual," Swetha said. Jonah is hoping a Blindian couple from India will soon participate in #BlindianProject. "I want to generate a conversation and not just say, 'A mob beat up an African. Okay, see you tomorrow,'" said Jonah. RELATED STORIES Bootcamps, internships train 'climate champions' in Uganda Uganda expects tea production to rise 3 pct this year Uganda, Tanzania start work on construction of $3.5bn oil pipeline The Weeknd donates $100,000 to health center in Uganda Uganda to finalise oil exploration deal with Nigerian firm TOP COMMENT When you go black you never go back. This is specifically true for girls. Pradeep VIEW ALL 3 COMMENTS ADD COMMENT Bookmark or read stories offline - Download the TOI app NEXT STORY MP Husain Dalwai introduces Bill to amend IPC to prevent hate crimes FROM AROUND THE WEB Simple Box Lets You Watch Everything For FreeTVFrogNow You Can Track Your Car Using Your SmartphoneTrackR BravoBitcoin Is About to Rocket-Up…AGAIN. Here's How You Cou..Money Morning Australia3 Tips That Every Diabetic Should KnowDiabetes Educators MORE FROM TIMES OF INDIA PM Modi felicitates Venkaiah NaiduVijender Singh wins WBO Asia Pacific, Oriental titles FROM OUR PARTNER PUBLICATIONS Looking for premium traffic in India? 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