Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Richard Verma. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma on Friday (August 16, 2024) met Nepal Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and discussed various aspects of the bilateral ties, including development cooperation and mutual interests.

Mr. Verma, an Indian-American diplomat, is the senior-most official from the Joe Biden administration to visit Nepal since a change of government, in Nepal, and Mr. Oli assumed charge as the Prime Minister last month.

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Mr. Verma, who is on a one-day visit to Nepal, met Mr. Oli at Singha Durbar where discussions were held on bilateral relations and mutual interests.

“The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by the U.S. government in Nepal’s economic and social development since the 1950s and hoped for continued support in various areas in the days ahead,” The Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted an official from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat as saying.

Mr. Oli informed Mr. Verma that Nepal is in the process of graduating from a least developed country (LDC) by 2026 and that the laws on transitional justice are being formulated based on political consensus.

“Mr. Verma recalled the over the two-decade-long relationship between the two countries, noting that it is a matter of pride for the United States to be a partner in Nepal’s development,” the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

“The senior U.S. official also congratulated Nepal on nearing the conclusion of its transitional justice process,” the report said. Mr. Verma, who is also scheduled to meet President Ram Chandra Paudel, earlier met Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba.

“Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources of the United States Richard R. Verma paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba today. Various aspects of Nepal-U.S. relations, including development cooperation, were discussed in the meeting,” Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said.

“He is leading U.S. delegations to Nepal and India to “advance and support a prosperous, secure, and resilient future for both countries,” a U.S. State Department statement had said ahead of his visit.

Soon after landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Mr. Verma posted on X: “Kicking off this trip in Nepal with an amazing glimpse of the majestic Himalayas! Looking forward to engaging with Government of Nepal officials and others to strengthen U.S. and Nepal partnership in support of a more democratic, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nepal,” he added in the post.

“Apart from Rana Deuba, the delegation will meet with senior government officials, development professionals, and business leaders to discuss shared priorities in economic development, women’s empowerment, energy, and people-to-people ties,” the State Department statement said.

Earlier, Dean R. Thompson, the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, welcomed him at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu and then accompanied him in the formal meetings with “Nepal government officials, implementing partners, trailblazing women entrepreneurs, and our Embassy team. His (Verma’s) visit highlights our commitment to strong U.S.-Nepal bilateral relations, with the United States firmly supporting Nepal’s people, democracy, and economic prosperity,” Mr.. Thompson said in a post on X.

Mr. Verma also met the Embassy team and appreciated their work in what he described as “to advance U.S.-Nepal relations.” He also met the U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment “to thank them for their dedicated service,” he said in yet another post. Mr. Verma will head to India for a visit from August 17 to 22.

A Nepalese woman welcomes her daughter who is evacuated from Israel, at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 13, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP

A group of 254 Nepali students rescued from the strife-torn Israel and led by Foreign Minister N. P. Saud arrived in Kathmandu on October 13.

A Nepal Airlines flight that took off from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on October 12 landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu this morning after a stopover in Dubai.

Speaking to the media at the airport, Foreign Minister Saud, who flew to Israel a day before to facilitate the rescue mission, said the remaining Nepalis who have requested repatriation would be rescued soon.

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The Minister said 557 Nepalis had provided their details in response to a request from the Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv to those wishing to return to Nepal or relocate to safer places.

“Out of the 557 Nepalis, 503 had applied to return to Nepal and among them 254 have returned home today with us,” he was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times newspaper.

Minister Saud also said that 54 Nepalis who had requested to be relocated from risky areas have been shifted to safer zones in Israel.

Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday which killed 10 Nepali students. Six students were rescued and one went missing.

“A search continues for Bipin Joshi who has gone missing following the attacks. We will share the information as soon as we get additional information on this,” Minister Saud said.

“The Israeli side has stated that it will take some time for handing over the bodies as it is required to complete the legal process and keep separate details of each and every deceased, and the number of bodies in Israel is currently very high,” he said, requesting the families and relatives of the deceased Nepalis to have patience.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 265 students from Nepal studying under the Israel government-funded ‘Learn and Earn’ scheme in various parts of Israel, and about 4,500 Nepali citizens working in various professional fields.