PM Modi's SAARC visit to focus on connectivity, people-to-people contact: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Kathmandu for the 18th SAARC Summit will focus on enhancement of connectivity and people-to-people contact.

"Our focus will be on enhancement of connectivity and people-to-people contact," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told media persons here.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay out his vision of what he sees as regional cooperation in South Asian region. It is our intention to hold as many bilateral interactions as possible," he said.

Akbaruddin, however, added that Prime Minister Modi's bilateral meets on the sideline of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation would depend on scheduling, priority of other leaders and intention of meaningful dialogue.

He also said that Pakistan had not made any request for a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.

The MEA had earlier today clarified that Prime Minister Modi will visit only Kathmandu during his three-day visit to Nepal due to unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels within the country.

The MEA added that the Prime Minister, however, looked forward to an early opportunity to visit Janakpur, Lumbini, Muktinath and other places in Nepal.