New Delhi: India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, met Nepal’s foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, in Kathmandu on Wednesday, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations across energy, aviation, trade, sports and education. The meeting came as both countries stepped up diplomatic preparations for Nepalese prime minister, Balendra Shah’s, proposed visit to India later this month.
During the meeting at Nepal’s foreign affairs ministry, the two sides discussed strengthening their multifaceted partnership and longstanding friendship, according to IANS, citing Khanal’s secretariat.
Khanal expressed confidence that relations between the two neighbours would deepen further, while Nepal’s foreign ministry emphasized continued cooperation across sectors of mutual interest.
Misri arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport earlier on Wednesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart, Amrit Bahadur Rai. He was received by Nepal’s joint secretary, Gehendra Rajbhandari, and India’s newly appointed ambassador, Sudhakar Dalela.
Misri is scheduled to hold delegation-level discussions with Rai and meet finance minister, Swarnim Wagle before calling on the prime minister, Shah, on Thursday.
The discussions are expected to help prepare the agenda for Shah’s first bilateral visit to India since assuming office. Although Nepali officials expect the visit later in November, neither government has formally announced the dates.
The Ministry of External Affairs had confirmed in July that an invitation had been extended to Shah.
A significant issue on Kathmandu’s agenda is a proposed economic assistance package exceeding $2 billion, comprising concessional loans and grants.
Citing senior Nepali officials, The Kathmandu Post reported that Nepal is seeking more than $1 billion in credit for electricity transmission and infrastructure projects, alongside $500 million each for upgrading the Siddhartha highway and rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the August 26 floods. India has not announced any commitment to the proposed package.
India approved electricity exports of up to 654MW to Nepal following devastating floods that damaged hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure, RNA Media reported in September.
Other issues likely to feature in bilateral discussions include reviewing Indian-funded development projects, revising the bilateral trade treaty and securing additional air-entry routes for international flights into Nepal.
The visit also follows renewed differences over Lipulekh Pass, near the India-Nepal-China tri-junction.
Nepal claims the territory and has objected to India’s plans to facilitate the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the pass. India rejects Nepal’s territorial claims while maintaining that outstanding boundary issues can be addressed through dialogue.
Misri’s earlier planned visit in May was postponed amid reported diplomatic and protocol differences. This is his second Kathmandu visit since becoming foreign secretary, in July 2024.
India’s MEA said the visit would cover bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest, while Nepal’s foreign ministry emphasized reviewing the full range of bilateral relations.
The engagement builds on extensive historical, cultural and people-to-people ties, alongside cooperation in hydropower, trade, connectivity, infrastructure and security.