Nepal’s newly inaugurated Pokhara International Airport, constructed with assistance from China, is facing scrutiny and concerns over its quality of construction and financial sustainability. An investigative report by The New York Times exposed flaws in the project, raising doubts about the quality of work, the role of oversight, and the burden of debt on Nepal.
Foreign policy expert Arun Kumar Subedi has called on the government to address these issues before the airport becomes a problem similar to Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, associated with China’s “debt trap” diplomacy. The airport’s ties to China’s Belt and Road Initiative have also strained relations with India, hindering its ability to attract international flights.
