Kathmandu, October 17

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa today flew to New Delhi to hold talks with the Indian government over disruption of essential supplies to Nepal.

Deputy Prime Minister Thapa will meet Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and seek New Delhi’s help to end protests along the Nepal-India border and resume essential supplies to Nepal.

“I am hopeful that my visit would help resolve the problems and clear the misunderstanding between two countries,” Deputy Prime Minister Thapa told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport before flying to New Delhi.

Swaraj had invited Thapa for a three-day India visit. Thapa is set to return home on Monday.

Madhesi parties have blocked major entry points along the Nepal-India border, disrupting supply of essentials, including petroleum products, to Nepal for almost four weeks.

Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and Commerce and Supplies Secretary Naindra Upadhaya are also accompanying DPM Thapa.

Ambassador of Nepal to India Deep Kumar Upadhayay and other officers of the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi will join the Deputy Prime Minister in New Delhi.

During a press briefing, Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikash Swarup had earlier said Swaraj and Thapa would hold discussion on a range of bilateral issues.

A foreign ministry official said the Nepali delegation would focus on disruption of essential supplies, including the petroleum, from India. The official further said that Nepali side also would try to learn about India’s genuine concerns and try to address them without compromising on national sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security.

The Indian side, however, is learnt to be willing to discuss and review all bilateral issues, including development projects, that featured during the 3rd Joint Commission meeting held in Kathmandu in July 2014.

Thapa said he would hold high-level meetings during his stay in New Delhi, but refrained from telling whether he would also meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or other leaders.