Joint report will help avoid problems, says Koshiyari

Kathmandu, July 1

Bhagat Singh Koshyari, coordinator of the Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations from India, today paid calls on President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel.

The meetings follow the ninth and final meet of the EPG held in Kathmandu yesterday that agreed on a joint report, which they plan to submit to prime ministers of the two countries soon.

During the meeting held at Pokhrel’s residence in Dhapasi, the two discussed contemporary Nepali politics, the government’s work plan, various issues related to Nepal-India relations, according to Pokhrel’s personal secretariat.

Conveying that the EPG agreed on a joint report within the stipulated time, Koshiyari said the report was prepared in such a way that any possible problems in bilateral relations could be avoided.

The senior leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party also said that India wanted bilateral ties to be more strong and cordial. Thanking Koshiyari for playing a crucial role in preparing the joint report, Pokhrel expressed his belief that the two governments would work to implement the recommendations in the report.

“The way the joint report has been agreed with consensus, you should play an important role in effective implementation of the recommendation the same way,” said Pokhrel during the meeting.

Stressing that meetings and interactions at political level should take place frequently to strengthen bilateral relations, Pokhrel said any issue in the relations should be sorted out through mutual understanding.