Instability in Nepal hampers India : Jaishankar

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Tuesday stressed the need for political stability in Nepal and, in a common message to the political leadership in the Himalayan nation, said any instability in the country has direct impact on India.

During his meetings with the top political leadership of Nepal here, he said India wanted to see a stable and developed Nepal and also a quick resolution of the political impasse that had developed since last September.

Jaishankar, who arrived here on Monday night to participate in the Saarc ministerial meeting in Pokhara, held separate talks with Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, agitating Madhesi leaders, newly-elected Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and former premier Baburam Bhattarai.

A PMO statement said Oli and Jaishankar discussed a wide range of issues and India said it wanted to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal. They also discussed the progress made after Oli's visit to India last month.

In his meeting with Madhesi leaders, he said he will push for a resolution of their demands with Oli and Deuba, who is president of the largest party in parliament.

The agitating Madeshi leaders told Jaishankar that no visible progress has been made in talks with government and no political agreement was likely to be reached any time soon.