The Indian External Affairs Minister was welcomed by Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and Nepal Ambassador to India Nilamber Acharya at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Jaishankar was appointed as India’s External Affairs Minister after the sudden demise of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The MoFA informed that both the countries External Affairs Ministers- Nepal’s Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and India’s Jaishankar co-chaired the Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting.

The two-day meeting will review bilateral relations, economic cooperation, energy, culture and education, trade and transit and water resources informed the Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Fifth Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission – Day 1

Starting on August 21, 2019, the Nepal-India Joint Commission began with opening remarks by the two countries representatives at the Hotel Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu.

During the meeting, the India delegation presented a cheque worth NPR 2.45 billion to Nepal as reimbursement to the Nepal Government for housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts.

Besides, the Indian side also gave a cheque worth INR 80.71 crore to Nepal, as part of its commitment to providing INR 500 crore towards strengthening road infrastructure in the Nepal’s Terai Region.

A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on food safety and standards was also signed between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Nepal Department of Food Technology and Quality Control.

The meeting also aims to fast-track past agreements signed by both nations.

After the meeting, Jaishankar made the following tweet.

Productive discussions with FM @PradeepgyawaliK at the 5th #IndiaNepal Joint Commission Meeting. Comprehensively reviewed our bilateral relations and identified priority areas for cooperation. pic.twitter.com/y0UlTqlaPi

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 21, 2019

“Productive discussions with FM @PradeepgyawaliK at the 5th #IndiaNepal Joint Commission Meeting. Comprehensively reviewed our bilateral relations and identified priority areas for cooperation,” said Jaishankar.

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Meets Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

On the day Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu, he payed a visit to PM Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar in the afternoon.

During their talks, Oli told Jaishankar that he had special relations with Modi and the two nations’ leaders  had spoken about the prosperity of Nepal and India.

To this, Jaishankar readily expressed India’s commitment to support Nepal in its every endeavor.

“The central message at the political level was that we are entering into a new chapter in bilateral ties,” said Rajan Bhattarai, Foreign Relations Advisor to PM Oli.

Oli took the opportunity to request Jaishankar that India receive the long-pending Eminent Persons’ Group report on Nepal-India relations. However, Jaishankar made no commitments on the same.

Both the nations eminent persons have been waiting for Modi’s to formally receive the report, which has certain recommendations that he is dissatisfied with.

Besides, the two ministers also spoke about the Jammu and Kashmir issue, which was followed by Jaishankar’s concerned query on the Nepal Prime Minister’s health.

“A warm and in-depth conversation with PM Oli. Really appreciate his receiving me amidst his many preoccupations,” tweeted Jaishankar shortly after the meeting.

The Indian Foreign Affairs Minister will meet with Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari on the second day of his visit to Nepal.

The post Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Nepal Visit: Day 1 appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

According to ANI, IAF conducted the strikes at 3:30 AM on February 26, 2019 by releasing 1,000 kg laser-guided bombs on the terror camp and completely destroying it. #IndiaStrikesBack

This included Balakot, Chakoti and Muzaffarabad terror launch pads along with Jaish-e-Mohammed control rooms (mastermind behind attack).

According to sources, the strike was 100 percent successful and was carried out as planned.

The terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed admitted to carrying out the terror attack on February 14, 2019 and also posted videos of the bomber, who had joined the terror group a year ago.

“On February 14, 2019, a suicide terror attack was conducted by Jaish-e-Mohammad in Kashmir. The JeM has been active in Pakistan for the last two decades. This organization which has been proscribed by the JeM has been responsible for a series of terror attacks,” informed Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

India has struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot, a large number of JeM terrorist were eliminated, added Gokhale.

Indian Political Leaders Salute IAF Strike on Terror Camp

When Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Chief Omar Abdullah learned about the IAF strike on terror camps he said, if it is true, this was not a small strike by any stretch of imagination, while retweeting ANI’s post.

“The problem now becomes PM Imran Khan’s commitment to his country – Pakistan will not think about responding, Pakistan WILL respond. What shape will response take? Where will response be? Will India have to respond to Pakistan’s response?” Abdullah stated.

“We salute bravery of our pilots and Air Force. We are blessed and proud of our forces. Jai Hind,” says Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal Leader on Twitter.

“IAF also means India’s Amazing Fighters. Jai Hind.” – Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister.

“Salute to #indianairforce for giving befitting reply to the terrorists.” –  Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party Chief

“Salutes to our brave soldiers. We are proud of you. #airstrike.”- Sheila Dikshit, Former Chief Minister of New Delhi

Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi ‘saluted the IAF pilots’ in his Twitter post.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met up with top ministers, who are part of the cabinet committee on security to learn about the situation at his home in New Delhi on February 26, 2019.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Defense Nirmal Sitharaman, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharam, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other top officials of the Indian Government were present at the meeting.

“Necessary step (taken) by Air Force. PM (Narendra Modi) had given this freedom to the armed forces, and now the entire nation stands behind the armed forces,” said Javadekar Prakash, Union Minister while responding to reports of India’s strike on terror camps over Line of Control.

The Prime Minister then briefed Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on IAF’s strike carried out at LoC.

According to ANI, Doval, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief BS Dhanoa are reviewing the security situation on the borders after Indian Air Force strikes.

Earlier, the Indian Army had also carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) on September 29, 2016, after terrorists attacked its base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri, earlier that month.

India Air Force has put all air defense systems on high alert along the International Border and LoC.

The post 2019 Pulwama Terror Attack – India Strikes Back at Pakistan! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Ahead of Nepal Prime Minister’s India visit, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday to attend the 15^th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting.

As part of the visit, the Indian minister held bilateral talks with Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

In the discussion, Deuba said both the countries should work together for achieving positive results in various past understandings and agreements, including implementation of various India-funded projects in Nepal.

In response, Sushma Swaraj said, “We are committed to timely completion of old and important projects undertaken by us. India is keen to invest in Nepal, but Nepal should also complete the required procedures for the timely completion of the projects.”

The Indian minister’s recent visit to Nepal is the first such high-level visit from India since Deuba assumed PMO and gains significance in the light of Nepal PM’s upcoming visit to India on August 23, 2017.

According to Foreign Relations Adviser to PM Dinesh Bhattarai, Deuba’s India visit would likely focus on realization of past accords and agreements Nepal had agreed with India.

In his talks with Indian officials, Deuba is also expected to raise issues related to demonetized Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations that are concerning Nepalese

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