Jaishankar pitches for Nepal stability during meeting with PM Oli

The Government of India has great confidence in the decision-making abilities of Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, visiting Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told the latter during their meeting here on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar, who is here to attend a SAARC ministerial meeting in Pokhara, said India wished to be of assistance for Nepal's stability and development, and added that New Delhi would also benefit positively as a result.

On his part, Prime Minister Oli said Nepal expected India's cooperation in its development endeavours as it was entering into a economic development phase.

The meeting, according to the Himalayan Times, took place in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Oli also opined that the bilateral relations between the two countries have been further strengthened by his official visit to India last month.

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar also separately called on Nepali Congress top leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's residence in Budhanilakantha to congratulate him on his election to the post of Nepali Congress's president.

Earlier in the day, he met several Madhesi leaders who briefed him about the prevailing situation in the Terai region of Nepal and urged him to use his influence to convince the Oli-led government to take steps to meet the demands of the former.