Nepals Foreign Minister Praises Relations with India During Visit

New Delhi, June 7: Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal recently completed a three-day visit to India, where he met with the country’s top leadership. On Sunday, he remarked on the strong ties between India and Nepal, emphasizing that there are further opportunities for collaboration in connectivity, tourism, and the energy sector.

In an interview with a news agency, Khanal stated that the historical relationship between India and Nepal is robust. He expressed hope for more high-level visits from both sides in the future.

This marks Khanal’s first visit to India since taking office earlier this year.

When asked about the nature of India-Nepal relations, Khanal said, “We truly have excellent relations. This is a historical connection that encompasses tourism, our river systems, water resources, energy, and family ties. It is multifaceted, and we have always enjoyed good relations with India. We see more opportunities for collaboration. We aim to enhance what we have historically shared, focusing on better cooperation in connectivity, energy, trade, and tourism.”

Additionally, when questioned about Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s comments regarding cross-border issues, Khanal clarified that his ministry had already issued an official statement on the matter.

Regarding inquiries about Shah’s remarks on Nepal’s claims over Indian territory, he stated, “My Foreign Ministry has already clarified this. The Prime Minister was responding to a question related to ‘cross-border encroachments’ in Parliament, so we have already addressed this issue.”

Khanal also commented on Shah’s anticipated visit to India, saying, “No date has been set yet, but my visit suggests that there could be several high-level exchanges in the coming months.”

He reiterated the significance of India-Nepal relations, stating, “We truly have excellent relations. This is a historical bond, linked to tourism, our rivers, our water, our energy, and our families.”

After a meeting with Khanal on Saturday, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar announced the handover of 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage projects to Nepal as part of the reconstruction program following the 2015 earthquake.