As Nepal plunged into a political turmoil, a US think-tank has said it is a worry for India with China appearing to benefit from New Delhi's "preoccupations" as Beijing expands its influence into the country.

"As this crisis in Nepal is unfolding, India is already extremely consumed with many other issues, which include but are not limited to the ongoing general elections, the implications of Pakistan potentially breaking under pressure from its jihadist insurgency and issues in managing Tamil opposition over the Sri Lankan army's final push against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," Stratfor said.

It said Beijing appears to be benefiting from the number of preoccupations afflicting India as it expands Chinese influence into Nepal.

"China is more interested in preventing India from monopolising foreign influence in Kathmandu, while New Delhi would rather have Beijing stay out of India's perceived sphere of influence," Stratfor said in its analysis of the latest development in Nepal in the aftermath of the sacking of the Nepal Army chief and resignation of the Maoist Prime Minister, Prachanda.

How this current Nepalese political crisis will play out is still unclear, but the tussle between the Maoists and their rivals in Nepal is yet another foreign policy conundrum to add to India's list, the think-tank noted.

The crisis is a long, simmering dispute that has spilled into the open with the current power struggle in Nepal, but not one that is likely to develop into a major confrontation between Beijing and New Delhi, Stratfor said.

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