Misunderstanding ended with Nepal PM's visit: Indian minister

KATHMANDU: Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said India's misunderstanding surfaced with Nepal last year had already ended with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to New Delhi.

Swaraj was responding to a query during a press conference organised to brief journalists about achievements of Narendra Modi-led government in last two years in terms of diplomatic relations, on Sunday.

"I am not saying this; Oli himself said that it (misunderstanding) ended," Swaraj said.

Oli had visited India in February this year, around five months after promulgation of the Constitution here, which India was apparently dissatisfied with. Nepal had accused India of imposing an unofficial border blockade for months, which India had consistently denied.

Highlighting India's "neighbourhood first" policy, Swaraj on Sunday said India was the first nation to extend humanitarian support to its neighbours including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives during various crises in the last two years.

She added that India and Nepal share historical geographical and cultural relationships.

"India has been a supporting nation to its neighbours," she stressed, "We need to cooperate with all neighbouring countries."