KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) says it has no official information regarding the reported four-day visit to India by Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s Chief Adviser Kumar Ben earlier this month.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Friday, MoFA spokesperson and Joint Secretary Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said the ministry had not received any formal notification about the visit.
Media reports had claimed that Ben traveled to India on July 3 via Simara and Bhairahawa before crossing the border by land into Gorakhpur and flying to New Delhi. The reports alleged he opted for the overland route to avoid public attention associated with air travel from Kathmandu.
According to earlier reports, Ben’s visit was arranged without informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other government agencies.
Responding to questions from journalists, Chhetri said, “We have no information regarding his visit to India. No official information has been received by the ministry.”
The spokesperson also said the ministry has not received any formal information regarding the reported visit of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane to China later this month.
“We have not received any official information about the RSP chairperson’s visit to China. It is a matter between political parties of the two countries,” Chhetri said, adding that the ministry would facilitate coordination if requested by the concerned party.
Chhetri further stated that no formal decision has yet been made regarding Prime Minister Shah’s visit to India.
“A high-level visit may take place at an appropriate time and date. We will inform the public when there is an update, but no date has been fixed so far,” he said.
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