Kathmandu, Aug 24 (UNI) Op-ed pages of broadsheet dailies here today gave deserved importance to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to New Delhi. An analysis of the news stories in the Nepali dailies published in the "Online Khabar" English edition today said that during the one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Deuba, India is expected to touch upon the issue of the standoff between Beijing and New Delhi. In this context, Nepali Congress central committee member Ramchandra Pokharel, in his his article published in the "Kantipur", opines that Nepal can raise its diplomatic standing in Asia if Kathmandu hosts talks between India and China. According to his article, Nepal is likely to be affected if the Doklam standoff continues and that is why it should urge both sides to defuse tensions by sitting for talks. On the standoff between India and China, Biswas Baral in his lead article in the "Republica" says that the tension between India and China should be viewed as part of the ‘big game’ with India and US on the one hand and China on the other. In the context of Nepal, after the border blockade and recent floods in the Terai, which have been partly attributed to India-built dams and roads, only a handful of intellectuals are ready to take up India’s cause. Baral says the strife between India and China also has implications on the domestic politics of the two countries as both Modi and Xi prepare for crucial political shakeups in the months to come. Citing a recent discussion among intellectuals, Baral raises an important question: If India and China go to war, and India requests Nepal to allow it to use Nepali territory to transfer its logistics citing the 1950 Treaty, what will Kathmandu do? Regarding the Madhesi issue, Chandra Kishore, in his lead piece in the "Kantipur", says that there is a tendency among Nepali leaders to either idolise or demonise India and China when it comes to domestic politics. He says that both India and China want Nepal on their side and are pressing Kathmandu to follow their lead, but Nepal has maintained a neutral stand on the issue. He says that Nepal cannot afford to take sides in the conflict, and it needs to convey this to India. Interview with Economist Poudel As regards the economics, in his interview in the "Republica", economist Biswo Poudel says since Nepal is between India and China, Nepalis know more about India and China than India and China may know about each other. He says that for Nepal to prosper, China and India should remain on friendly terms. Nepal is not in a position to manipulate these two countries. He says that rather than trying to become a buffer state, Nepal should try to become a place where both countries come and invest. UNI XC SNU 1206