What happened?
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded his two-day official visit to Nepal on August 18, 2025. During the visit, he handed over a formal invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli for an official visit to India. The visit included meetings with senior Nepali leadership, including President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Oli, and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. Misri also held wide-ranging discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, reviewing bilateral initiatives and exploring potential deliverables for the upcoming high-level visit.
Why it matters to India
The visit reinforces India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nepal under its Neighbourhood First policy. Engagements during the visit focused on expanding cooperation across key sectors such as connectivity, energy, defence, and digital infrastructure. The Foreign Secretary also met with the Chief of Army Staff of Nepal and handed over defence stores, including Light Strike Vehicles, medical equipment, and military animals, further enhancing defence cooperation. The visit reflects the steady progress in India-Nepal relations and continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges aimed at advancing shared development goals and regional stability.