Paving the way for closer bilateral consultation in the coming weeks, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks in Kathmandu with the Nepali leadership on Thursday. The visit by Ms. Swaraj is mainly meant for the 15th Ministerial meeting from the Bay of Bengal countries, but she held bilateral talks acrossthe political spectrum of Nepal, including with agitating leaders of the Madhesi community, who have been demanding Constitutional reforms in Nepal.
Ms. Swaraj met with the Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to discuss his upcoming visit to India, his first since taking charge in the first week of June following a power-sharing arrangement with his predecessor Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Following the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA) in a social media message described India-Nepal ties as a “unique relationship of friendship and cooperation”.
The visit by Ms. Swaraj is significant as it comes in the midst of the ongoing India-China stand-off over the Doklam plateau, and amidst reports that Nepal is under pressure to take sides in the stand-off. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang is also expected to land in Kathmandu on August 14.