Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar arriving in Nepal today

KATHMANDU: In a significant diplomatic move, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar touched down in Nepal today for the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India Foreign Minister-level Joint Commission. The arrival, facilitated by a special Indian Air Force plane, signals a two-day engagement with bilateral discussions at its core.

Sources within the Indian Embassy affirmed that the Joint Commission meeting will predominantly delve into the execution of agreements arising from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda's' recent visit to India.

"The visit's agenda is nearly finalized, pending confirmation after discussions with the Prime Minister," shared a source from the Foreign Ministry.

Adding to the intrigue, insiders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hinted at a potential breakthrough—an agreement to escalate India's aid under the small aid project to Nepal from Rs.5 crore to Rs.20 crore, slated for official signing during the visit.

Nepal is poised to propose the opening of international air routes to India, with specific emphasis on the persistent call for air routes from Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj, and Bhairahawa.

Simultaneously, India is preparing for discussions on the Arun 3rd hydropower project, currently stalled due to compensation disputes, and its potential completion by 2025.

Moreover, India is anticipated to request progress on the Tamor Hydropower Project, while a pending agreement looms over the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by India for the Pancheshwar multi-purpose project, according to the source.

During Prime Minister Dahal's visit to India last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the intent to purchase 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal over the next decade. The leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), sealing agreements for the construction of Phukot Karnali and Lower Arun, along with the inauguration of the Gorakhpur-Bhairawa 400 KV transmission line.

While in Kathmandu, Minister Jaishankar is slated for courtesy meetings with President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli.

He is scheduled to visit Shital Niwas at 11 am to meet President Poudel, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Dahal at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar at 12 pm.

After participating in the Foreign Affairs Ministerial Commission meeting at 1 pm, Minister Jaishankar is set to meet Nepali Congress President Deuba at 3:40 pm and UML Chairman Oli at 4:30 pm.

Additionally, he plans to worship at Pashupati at 8 am on Friday.

According to an Indian Embassy source, he is scheduled to return to India at 12 noon on Friday, concluding his two-day visit.