EAM Jaishankar holds talks with Nepal FM Gyawali in Delhi, discusses various bilateral relations
Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
FollowNew Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali with a focus on various key aspects of the bilateral relations.
Both the leaders met at the Hyderabad House. The Sixth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting will be held after the talks between Gyawali and Jaishankar.
The talks are taking place under the framework of the Indo-Nepal joint commission meeting (JCM), officials said. Gyawali arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit.
He is the first senior political leader from Nepal to visit India after the ties between the two countries came under strain following a border row between the two nations when Nepal published a new political map that showed the three Indian territories -- Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh as part of Nepal.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday gave clear indication that the boundary issue is unlikely to be discussed at the JCM.
Responding to questions on the border row, he said at a media briefing: “Our position on the boundary issue is well known. Let me say that the JCM and boundary talks are separate mechanisms.” He said the JCM is an important mechanism that provides the opportunity of reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral partnership and providing political guidance to further enhance the unique ties between the two countries.
“We look forward to constructive discussions on the numerous sectors that encompass our bilateral agenda,” he said.
Nepal has been in political turmoil since President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the Lower House on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's recommendation in December.
After dissolving the Parliament, Oli also proposed elections on April 30 and May 10, 2021, nearly two years ahead of the schedule.
