Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded a two-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. During his stay on August 17-18, Misri held courtesy meetings with President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba.

As part of the visit, Misri handed over an official invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prime Minister Oli to undertake a visit to India at a mutually convenient date. Both foreign secretaries reviewed progress in ongoing bilateral initiatives and discussed possible outcomes and areas of cooperation that could feature during Oli’s upcoming visit.

The Indian Foreign Secretary also met with Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and formally handed over Light Strike Vehicles (LSVs), critical care medical equipment, and military animals as part of defense cooperation. This step was highlighted as part of India’s continued support to strengthen Nepal’s security capabilities.

In the meetings, both sides expressed satisfaction over recent progress in areas including physical and digital connectivity, energy cooperation, and defense and security. Misri also held discussions with other senior political leaders in Nepal.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Nepal remains a priority partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, and the visit reaffirmed the tradition of high-level exchanges while providing further momentum to bilateral ties. Analysts view the visit as a constructive step in maintaining regular dialogue between the two neighbors, paving the way for deeper cooperation in the coming months.