India, Nepal discuss security issues

India and Nepal discussed issues of mutual security at the 12th meeting of their Bilateral Consultative Group (BCG) on security issues held here, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday.

"The BCG discussions covered issues relating to mutual security concerns as well as defence and training requirements, exchange of experts/instructors, cooperation in disaster management, and the 10th Surya Kiran joint military exercises at battalion level to be held in Nepal in October-November 2016," the ministry said in a statement.

The Indian delegation at the meeting, held on Thursday, was led by Abhay Thakur, Joint Secretary (North) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The Nepalese delegation, was led by Prakash Kumar Suvedi, Joint Secretary (South Asia) in Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The delegations on both sides comprised officials from the respective Ministries of Defence and several Directorates and Departments of the Indian Army and the Nepal Army, including training and operations," the External Affairs Ministry statement said.

The visiting Nepalese delegation made a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff Dalbir Singh as well as interactions with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the National Defence College (NDC).

Meanwhile, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa arrived here on Friday and is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj later in the day.

Thapa will preside over the convocation ceremony of the South Asian University to be held here on Saturday.

--IANS

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