India steps up high voltage engagement with Nepal after senior official’s visit to Kathmandu

<p>
New Delhi is aggressively rechartering its Nepal policy. Anurag Srivastava, joint secretary Ministry of External Affairs, also looking after Nepal and Bhutan has arrived in Kathmandu. Srivastava held a series of meetings with Commerce Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai and Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Maraseni.</p>
<p>
“Discussions were held on progressing mutual co-operation in commerce, development and economic sectors,” the Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a tweet.</p>
<p>
Just before this high level visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka in New York on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/is-china-blocking-cabinet-expansion-under-deuba-in-nepal-116664.html">Is China blocking cabinet expansion under Deuba in Nepal?</a></strong></p>
<p>
Vijay Chauthaiwale, chief of BJP's Foreign Affairs Department, too paid a visit to Kathmandu in August and held meetings with all top leaders including Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.</p>
<p>
The International Business Times—an American online publication noted that Chauthaiwale’s recent visit to Kathmandu and meetings with the top leaders might go unnoticed by the masses, but it is a crucial step in the direction of jump-starting the bilateral ties between India and Nepal.</p>
<p>
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress Joint Secretary, former Foreign Minister and head of party's international department Prakash Sharan Mahat will also be leading a three-member delegation to India that will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday, reports said.</p>
<p>
Earlier, Bhaskar Koirala, Director of the Nepal Institute of International and Strategic Studies told India Narrative that the two countries have a unique opportunity to strengthen their bilateral ties at this key juncture</p>
<p>
“It must be emphasised that relations with India are unique for one simple reason, namely the more than 1800 kilometres open border,” Koirala said.</p>