KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stated that the Government of Nepal has been making continuous and tireless efforts for the early release of Nepali youth Bipin Joshi, who remains under the control of the Hamas group.
In a statement issued on Monday, Deuba explained that the Foreign Ministry, in coordination with the Israeli government, has actively engaged Joshi’s family members in applying pressure for his release. His mother Padma and sister Pushpa are currently in Israel, meeting senior leaders and appealing for his freedom.
Deuba said that since assuming office as foreign minister, she has prioritized the issue and consistently raised it in the UN General Assembly, bilateral and multilateral meetings, courtesy calls, and international conferences. From the 79th UN General Assembly in New York to the ACID Conference in Doha, she said, Nepal has urged world leaders to help secure Joshi’s release.
Following the Israel–Hamas ceasefire, she held direct and telephone discussions with senior officials from Qatar, Israel, and Egypt, including a special request to Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi. She also maintained regular contact with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Ati.
In addition, she met U.S. senior security official Rikki Gill in New Delhi to seek American support, and raised the issue with other global leaders during the Raisina Dialogue.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also drew attention to the matter in phone conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
“The Government of Nepal has placed this issue at the highest priority. We are making continuous diplomatic efforts. The government stands with Joshi’s family and is keeping them informed of every initiative we take,” Deuba said in her statement.
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