Foreign Minister Clarifies Indian Helicopter Entry, Discusses Export Issues

Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has clarified that the Indian helicopter entered Nepali territory not intentionally but due to adverse weather. He made this clarification on Wednesday while responding to oral questions related to the ministry during a National Assembly meeting of the Federal Parliament.

Minister Khanal stated that the Indian helicopter entered Nepal's Darchula district due to bad weather, and there was no intentional or malicious intent seen from the Indian side in that incident. He said, 'It has not been seen that the Indian helicopter entered Nepal's territory with intentional and malicious intent in the Darchula district, and due to the geographical location and weather of that area, necessary contact and coordination are ongoing between the relevant Nepali officials and the Indian side regarding the entry into Nepali territory.'

Similarly, Minister Khanal informed that the government is also making efforts to resolve the problem seen in Nepal's areca nut export. He also claimed in the house that he had succeeded in resolving the problem seen in tea export with India. He stated that the government is continuously making diplomatic efforts to resolve the problems seen in export trade with India.

Informing about the ease of export of Nepali tea to India, he said, 'Efforts are being made to resolve the problem seen in areca nut export. The honorable house is already aware that the government is continuously making efforts to resolve the problem seen in the export of Nepali tea to India. In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepali Embassy in India have been in dialogue with high officials from India's Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Food Safety, and the Indian Tea Board, continuing diplomatic efforts. Discussions were also held at a high level during my visit to India last June. As a result, this problem has now been resolved, and I want to inform you that the export of Nepali tea to India has become easier. A few days ago, India facilitated our export by making some modifications to its policy.'