Indian Foreign Secretary Misri arrives in Kathmandu ahead of Shah’s India visit

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning for a two-day official visit aimed at preparing the ground for Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s proposed visit to India later this month. Misri, who is visiting at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai, is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Rai over a working lunch on Wednesday. He will call on Prime Minister Shah on Thursday before returning to New Delhi, a senior foreign ministry official said.

During the meeting, Misri is expected to convey an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Shah to visit India. The visit comes as Kathmandu and New Delhi step up preparations for Shah’s proposed visit, which would be his first bilateral trip to India since taking office. The visit is expected to take place later this month, although neither government has formally announced the dates.

In a statement announcing the visit, India's Ministry of External Affairs said Misri would discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest with Nepali officials.