Pokhara, Nepal: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj last night held an over hour-long meeting with the Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli, during which key bilateral issues are understood to have been discussed.
Swaraj met Mr Oli at the Shangri-La hotel, following a dinner hosted by South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretary General Ajay Bahadur Thapa.
The meeting between the two leaders comes ahead of the 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting, beginning here today.
Interestingly, neither the Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar nor the Indian Ambassador here Ranjeet Ray, besides Joint-Secretary (North) Abhay Thakur were present during the meeting.
Though Indian officials described the meeting as a routine call-on, even they were surprised at the duration of over hour-long meeting.
The meeting between Ms Swaraj and Mr Oli comes nearly a month after the Nepalese Prime Minister's visit to India.
The bilateral ties between the two countries had faced turbulence in the recent past due to the months-long Madhesi agitation and subsequent road-blocks which had put the Nepalese government in a spot.
Earlier yesterday, Ms Swaraj arrived here for a three-day visit to attend the SAARC Ministerial meeting during which she will push ahead India's "neighbourhood first" policy and review the progress of decisions taken by the grouping last year.
Ms Swaraj arrived here on a Mi17 chopper from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting will take place today after which she will also hold bilateral talks with her counterparts from several countries.
SAARC member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Swaraj met Mr Oli at the Shangri-La hotel, following a dinner hosted by South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretary General Ajay Bahadur Thapa.
The meeting between the two leaders comes ahead of the 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting, beginning here today.
Though Indian officials described the meeting as a routine call-on, even they were surprised at the duration of over hour-long meeting.
Advertisement
The bilateral ties between the two countries had faced turbulence in the recent past due to the months-long Madhesi agitation and subsequent road-blocks which had put the Nepalese government in a spot.
Advertisement
Ms Swaraj arrived here on a Mi17 chopper from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Advertisement
SAARC member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Committed To Strengthen Nepal-India Relations": Newly Appointed PM KP Sharma Oli KP Sharma Oli Takes Oath As Nepal PM After Prachanda Loses Trust Vote PM Modi Congratulates Nepali PM K P Sharma Oli On His Third Term Win Amit Shah Meets PM, UP BJP Chief Offers To Quit Over Poll Drubbing: Sources "I Divorce You... Your Ex-Wife": Dubai Princess Dumps Husband In Insta Post In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post Are Doors Still Open For Nephew Ajit? Sharad Pawar Said This Karnataka High Court Gives Bail To 3 Murder Accused In Gauri Lankesh Case Consumption, Private Investment: The Twin Challenge For Budget FY25 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.