New Delhi:

Nepal will export close to 1,000 megawatt of electricity to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday after holding comprehensive talks with his Nepalese counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba.

S Jaishankar described Nepal’s decision to export the electricity to India as a “new milestone”.

In their talks, the two ministers also focused on boosting cooperation in areas of trade, connectivity and infrastructure.

Arzu Rana Deuba began her five-day trip to India on Sunday in her first official trip abroad after assuming the responsibility.

“Discussed the multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development,” S Jaishankar said on ‘X’.

“Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to India, a new milestone,” he said.

“Our Neighbourhood First policy and unique people-to-people & cultural connect propels our relationship forward,” he added.

Pleased to welcome FM @Arzuranadeuba of Nepal on her first official visit abroad.

Discussed the multifaceted cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development.

Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to… pic.twitter.com/raXs83jqBA

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 19, 2024

On her part, Arzu Rana Deuba described the talks as “productive”.

“Had a productive meeting with @DrSJaishankar in New Delhi. We discussed bilateral interests, various aspects of Nepal-India relations, and the exchange of mutual cooperation,” she said on ‘X’.

“I am confident this visit will further strengthen the centuries-old bond between Nepal and India,” Arzu Rana Deuba said.

The Nepalese foreign minister’s visit comes a week after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri travelled to Kathmandu.

Nepal is an important neighbour for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship between the two sides.

The country shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states — Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhubaneshwar:

Contesting Nepal’s decision to introduce a new Rs 100 currency note featuring disputed Indian territories, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi’s position is very clear adding that Kathmandu unilaterally took some measures on their side.

He also said that while both countries were having talks on boundary matters, by doing something unilaterally, Nepal is not going to change the on-ground reality.

“I saw that report. I have not looked at it in detail, but I think our position is very clear. With Nepal, we were having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. And then in the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side. But by doing something on their side, they are not going to change the situation between us or the reality on the ground,” said S Jaishankar while interacting with professionals in Bhubaneswar on “Why Bharat Matters.”

A cabinet meeting on Friday decided to incorporate a new political map of Nepal on 100 rupee banknotes, covering the controversial territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani as part of its territory.

Earlier in May 2020, Nepal’s updated map prepared incorporating the missing territories was submitted to the Ministry of Land Management by the Department of Survey which claims to have taken accurate scale, projection and coordinate system.

Tension had mounted between New Delhi and Kathmandu after the issuance of a political map by Nepal in mid-May 2020, including the Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, which India earlier had included in its November 2019 map.

The earlier map issued in 2032 BS left Gunji, Nabhi and Kuri villages, which have now been included in the recently revised map, adding 335 square kilometres of land.

Diplomatic ties between the nations worsened after the inauguration of a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020, after which Nepal handed over a diplomatic note to India objecting to the move.

Prior to the handover of the diplomatic note, Nepal also had strongly objected to India’s unilateral move to construct the road. Following a strong objection from Nepal, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said the road going through Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district “lies completely within the territory of India.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kathmandu:

Nepal and India have discussed a wide range of issues relating to mutual security, defence supplies, training and capacity building as part of the efforts to step by bilateral cooperation.

The two sides held the 15th Meeting of the India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues (BCGSI) in Pokhara, Nepal, on October 5 covering a wide range of issues relating to mutual security, defence supplies, training and capacity building and joint military exercises.

The two sides also discussed exchanges of visits, joint expeditions and adventure activities and cooperation in disaster management and information sharing, according to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy here on Saturday.

During the bilateral meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, India, and the Nepali delegation was led by Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegations comprised officials from respective ministries of defence, foreign affairs, home affairs, and directorates of the Indian Army and the Nepali Army.

The BCGSI, established in 2003, is an important institutional mechanism between India and Nepal for promoting bilateral defence and security cooperation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)