Indo-Nepal bilateral ties will further deepen during Oli’s premiership: Koshiyari

KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, India coordinator of Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and foreign affairs expert, expressed his confidence that Indo-Nepal bilateral ties will further deepen in the coming days.

“Indo-Nepal bilateral ties will be focused on the issues of development and prosperity in the coming days. India is eager to see Nepal progress and develop. Nepal has finally got a stable government under the leadership of CPN-UML Chair K P Sharma Oli. People have high hopes with this government. I hope this government will work for the welfare of country and its people,” said Koshiyari at a special interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday.

“I believe that the excellent relation between Nepal and India will further deepen and move ahead establishing a development partnership during the premiership of Oli,” added Koshiyari.

He said he was confident that the political leaders and the people of Nepal have a very positive relation with India. “This bond is inseparable,” he furthered.

The former vice-chairman of Bharatiya Janata Party shared that he had held separate talks with Prime Minister Oli, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ during his stay in Nepal.

“I held one-to-one talks with Prime Minister Oli, Maoist Center Chair Prachanda and NC President Deuba. I am glad that they said they cannot even think of jeopardizing the existing excellent Indo-Nepal relation,” he added.

“The relation between Nepal and India is excellent and unique. All three leaders have said that the two countries have an eternal bond. They have assured full cooperation with India in matters of development,” furthered Koshiyari.

He also claimed that Nepal’s Prime Minister Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi never had a straining relationship. “Temporary hiccups are normal. But, in overall both the prime ministers have a very excellent relationship.”

Briefing the 7th EPG meeting that concluded on Sunday in Kathmandu, Koshiyari shared that the EPG will submit a report very soon.

He said, “We held serious discussion regarding 1950 Treaty, trade and transition, connectivity, railway links, hydel projects, cyber crime, environmental issues and various other issues of India-Nepal relation. A report is being prepared to take the bilateral relation between the two countries to a new height. I am confident that no sides will be disappointed with the report.”

The EPG is a joint mechanism consisting of experts and intellectuals from Nepal and India, formed to study and report on the overall relations between the two neighbors including 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty, trade, environment, border and hydropower. The EPG that met for the first time in July 2016 has four fourth months left, before its term expires. The next meeting will be held in New Delhi.