Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Nepal next month, marking the first high-level bilateral engagement since Prime Minister Balendra Shah took office. While reports in Nepali media suggest that the visit may occur on May 11-12, official sources indicate that the precise dates are still under discussion. Both nations view this visit as a chance to enhance collaboration across various sectors.
The proposal for this visit arose during a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Nepali counterpart, Shishir Khanal, on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference held in Mauritius earlier this month. This encounter marked the first significant contact between India and Nepal since Shah assumed leadership.
During the visit, Misri is anticipated to formally extend an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Shah. However, diplomatic sources indicate that both parties must first discuss the new government’s focus and priorities before finalizing any ministerial visit. Notably, the newly formed government in Nepal has already welcomed high-ranking officials from both the United States and China.
