EAM Jaishankar calls on Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Kathmandu

EAM Jaishankar visits Nepal for first time in 2024, to co-chair India-Nepal Joint Commission & meet Nepal PM.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on January 4 called on President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Kathmandu before co-chairing the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

This is Mr. Jaishankar’s first visit to a foreign country in 2024.

Soon after arriving in Kathmandu in the morning, Mr. Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on President Paudel at the Presidential Office Sheetal Niwas.

“President Paudel emphasised the need for collaboration and cooperation between Nepal and India on the areas of connectivity, mitigation of climate change impacts and hydropower development,” a source from the Presidential Office said.

Mr. Jaishankar then called on Prime Minister Prachanda at the latter’s office, Singhdurbar, according to Foreign Ministry sources.

Earlier, the EAM was accorded a warm welcome by his Nepalese counterpart N P Saud at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) where Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other senior officials were present too.