hold -- vt -- India reaffirms support for stable Nepal

Following a dip in ties with Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting with visiting Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa here on Friday, reaffirmed India's support for development and stability in the Himalayan nation.

"External Affairs Minister Sushma welcomed Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on his fifth visit to India," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

"Bilateral mechanisms were reviwed, including political exchanges, connectivity and trade," he said.

"The external affairs minister reaffirmed India's interest in development and stability in Nepal."

Thapa, who arrived here on Friday, will preside over the convocation ceremony of the South Asian University on Saturday.

Early last month, the pro-establishment faction in Nepal accused India of causing an upheaval in the Himalayan country by allegedly propping up the Nepali Congress and United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) to bring down Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's government.

In response to this alleged move, the Nepal government cancelled the visit of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to India scheduled for the middle of May and recalled its ambassador from New Delhi.

--IANS

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