Nepalese PM embarks on visit to India

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left for a four-day state visit to India on Thursday morning.

It is the first foreign visit of Dahal, who became the head of the government on Aug. 4 succeeding to KP Sharma Oli.

Leading a 125-member delegation, Prime Minister Dahal embarked on the visit of the southern neighbor at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak, members of Parliament, secretaries at different ministries, government officials, advisers, security officials among others are in the PM's delegation.

Earlier this week while addressing the Parliament, Prime Minister Dahal said that he will talk to the Indian leadership to repair bilateral relationship which was at its lowest ebb for the past one year.

The two neighbors have witnessed soured relations since September last year following the border-based agitation of Madhes-based parties in Nepal against the new constitution and unofficial Indian blockade.

Nepal had accused the Indian government for imposing the border blockade backing the disgruntled ethnic Madhes-based parties while the southern neighbor had refuted the allegations.

Prior to the visit, Dahal who is also the chairman of CPN Maoist Center repeatedly said that this visit is to bring back the friendship in track and to expand the ties into a greater height.

He has expressed confidence that the visit would help further consolidate the bilateral ties and will lay stress on effective and immediate implementation of the past treaties and agreements.

Dahal has clarified that he would not be signing any new agreement with India, but will review and implement the past agreements covering post-quake reconstruction, hydro power trade agreements and the construction of postal highway among others. Endit