Nepal eyes gains from high-profile Indian visits

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake a three-day visit starting July 25, followed by home minister Rajnath Singh in early August and a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the same month.

Updated on: Jul 6, 2014, 01:00:33 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, KATHMANDU

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Expectations are high in Kathmandu about several major announcements during the three high-profile visits from India to Nepal in July and August.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake a three-day visit starting July 25, followed by home minister Rajnath Singh in early August and a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the same month.

In a statement, Nepal’s finance ministry stated that the country’s finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat, in a meeting with the Indian ambassador to Kathmandu, sought India’s help in power generation, construction of major roads and bridges and a cricket academy in Kathmandu.

No Indian prime minister has undertaken a bilateral visit to Nepal since 1997 and Modi’s visit, the dates of which are yet to be announced, is being keenly awaited in Kathmandu.

Swaraj, who will lay the groundwork for Modi’s trip, will lead the Indian delegation in the third Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting to be held on July 26 and 27.

The Joint Commission hasn’t met since 1991 and this month’s meeting is expected to deliberate prominently on topics of security, trade and transit, energy and water resources and long-pending issues like the finalisation of remaining work on boundary line, mutual legal assistance and power trade agreements.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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