KATHMANDU: India has proposed Naveen Srivastava as its new ambassador to Nepal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country in mid-May, sources have said.
Srivastava currently heads the East Asia division in India’s External Affairs Ministry.
He will succeed Vinay Kwatra, who became foreign secretary this month, as the envoy to Nepal.
He has also played a key role in the diplomatic and military talks with China to tackle the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that began two years ago, Hindustan Times reported.
The Indian side’s agreement formally seeking Nepal’s concurrence for Srivastava’s posting, has been received by Nepal’s foreign ministry and is expected to be cleared soon, according to the report.
He currently heads the division in the ministry that deals with China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia, and is seen as an experienced China hand.
Srivastav has also served as the consul general in Shanghai and his experience in dealing with China will be an additional advantage in Nepal, given Beijing’s efforts to widen its influence in the Himalayan country’s politics and economy.
India has proposed Srivastava as its next envoy to Nepal days ahead of a visit by Modi to join his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba at Lumbini for celebrations marking Buddha Purnima, or the birth anniversary of the Buddha, on May 16.
However, the visit is yet to be formally announced by India or Nepal.
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