Indian Foreign Secretary concludes two-day Nepal visit

KATHMANDU: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is returning to New Delhi on Monday after completing a two-day official visit to Nepal.

Misri arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday morning and held a series of high-level meetings throughout the day.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Misri extended a formal invitation from the Government of India to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to visit New Delhi. This marks the first official invitation since Oli assumed office 14 months ago.

During his stay, Misri called on President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Oli, former prime minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, and former prime minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba. He met Dahal at his residence in Khumaltar and Deuba at his residence in Budhanilkantha.

Later in the evening, Misri met Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by detailed bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. The discussions focused on enhancing connectivity, trade, and development cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.

Before returning to India, Misri is scheduled to offer prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple on Monday morning. His visit came at the invitation of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Rai.