KATHMANDU, Aug 18: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday for a two-day official visit, laying the groundwork for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s upcoming trip to India, officials confirmed.
Upon arrival, Misri engaged in a series of high-level meetings with Nepal’s top leadership, focusing on connectivity, development cooperation, and broader aspects of the bilateral partnership.
On Sunday, he paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas. President Paudel welcomed Misri and highlighted the deep-rooted social, cultural, religious, and economic ties between Nepal and India. “As a rising international power, India’s progress in socio-economic and technological fields has encouraged us. Nepal has benefitted from India’s achievements and looks forward to deeper cooperation,” Paudel’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted him as saying.
Misri, reaffirming Nepal’s importance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy, said his visit sought to advance connectivity and mutual development to further strengthen ties.
Earlier, Misri met Prime Minister Oli at Singha Durbar and conveyed an official invitation from Prime Minister Modi to visit India. According to Oli’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, discussions also covered the exchange of high-level visits and other aspects of bilateral relations. The date of Oli’s visit has not yet been announced, with both sides agreeing it will be finalized through diplomatic channels.
56 secys, 662 joint-secys and 848 under-secys adjusted in three...
In addition, Misri held separate meetings with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, where they discussed various dimensions of Nepal-India relations and regional issues.
Misri’s visit came at the invitation of Nepali Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. He is scheduled to return to New Delhi on Monday after concluding his engagements in Kathmandu.
Sources said Prime Minister Oli is set tol visit India later this month following an official invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveyed by Foreign Secretary Misri. This will be Oli’s first trip to the southern neighbor since assuming office 14 months ago.
Oli’s relationship with India has seen both highs and tensions over the years. During his earlier tenure (2015–2016), Oli strongly criticized India following the months-long unofficial border blockade that coincided with Nepal’s new constitution. This strained ties, with Oli being viewed negatively by the Indian establishment.
However, in subsequent years, Oli sought to recalibrate Nepal-India relations, emphasizing connectivity, trade, and development cooperation. Although his visit to India in his previous stint as the prime minister helped reset dialogue, the border disputes—particularly over Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura—remain contentious issues.
In his current term, Prime Minister Oli, according to experts, has signaled a more pragmatic approach, acknowledging India’s strategic importance while balancing Nepal’s relations with China.
PM Oli to fly to India on army aircraft
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will use a Nepali Army aircraft for his upcoming visit to India, officials confirmed. The process of obtaining clearance from Indian authorities for the aircraft is already underway.
Oli, accompanied by his delegation, is scheduled to travel from Kathmandu to Bodh Gaya on a mutually agreed date. This will mark his first visit to India since taking office 14 months ago.
During the trip, Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold bilateral talks in Bodh Gaya.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who arrived in Nepal on Sunday, delivered Modi’s official invitation to Oli during a meeting at Singha Durbar. According to Oli’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, the two also discussed the exchange of high-level visits and broader aspects of bilateral ties.
The exact date of Oli’s visit has not yet been officially announced. Both sides have agreed that the schedule will be announced through mutual diplomatic understanding.
