New Delhi, Nov 3:
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will undertake a two-day official visit to Nepal on November 4 and 5, marking the first high-level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Kathmandu following the formation of the new government in Nepal. The visit, at the invitation of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, is expected to provide an opportunity to review bilateral relations and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation across key sectors.
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Misri and Rai will hold bilateral discussions covering various aspects of India-Nepal relations and exchange views on matters of mutual interest. Misri is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on senior Nepali dignitaries during his stay in Kathmandu. The visit assumes significance as both countries prepare for a proposed official visit to India by Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah later this month, with November 22 emerging as a possible date.
India and Nepal share longstanding historical, cultural and economic ties, with cooperation spanning trade, transit, infrastructure, investment, energy and cross-border connectivity. India remains Nepal’s largest trading partner and an important source of development assistance. Hydropower cooperation is another major component of the relationship, with Nepal seeking to expand electricity exports to India through cross-border transmission networks and energy trade agreements.
However, several longstanding issues continue to require diplomatic attention. The territorial dispute involving Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura remains a sensitive subject, with Nepal reiterating its territorial claims and India rejecting Kathmandu’s position. Trade and transit arrangements, border management and the implementation of existing bilateral agreements are also expected to feature in broader discussions between the two sides.
The visit comes amid renewed efforts by New Delhi and Kathmandu to maintain regular high-level communication. Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal’s visit to India in June included discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on development partnerships, connectivity, trade and energy cooperation. Both countries have also continued engagement through bilateral mechanisms covering security, water resources, infrastructure and border-related matters.
Misri’s November 4–5 visit is expected to provide diplomatic momentum to India-Nepal relations and help prepare the ground for Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s proposed visit to New Delhi. The discussions will be closely watched for indications of the new Nepali government’s priorities in its engagement with India and the direction of bilateral cooperation in the coming months.