Diplomat Vikram Misri embarks on a two-day tour of Nepal in his official capacity as Foreign Secretary.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's two-day official visit to Nepal, from August 17-18, 2025, aimed to bolster the relationship between the two countries. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations by reviewing and advancing cooperation in key sectors such as physical and digital connectivity, energy, defence, and development cooperation.
Upon arrival, Misri was received at the airport by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and the Indian Ambassador to Nepal. He paid a courtesy call on Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at Baluwatar upon his arrival.
The meetings during Misri's visit provided an opportunity to review recent developments in bilateral ties and discuss ways to deepen cooperation. Discussions during his visit focused on enhancing the Nepal-India partnership, with special attention to connectivity, development cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest.
Foreign Secretary Misri held separate meetings with senior leaders, including Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. He is also scheduled to meet President Ram Chandra Paudel during his visit.
One of the key outcomes of the visit was an invitation extended from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prime Minister Oli for an official India visit to further boost ties. The visit also explored new areas of collaboration to advance the strategic partnership.
India attaches high priority to its relations with Nepal under its Neighborhood First policy. The Ministry of External Affairs described Misri's visit as part of the "tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries."
The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Nepal, reinforcing India's commitment to Nepal's development and regional cooperation under the Neighborhood First policy. Strategic discussions aimed at achieving concrete and mutually beneficial outcomes in various sectors were held, to be highlighted during the forthcoming PM Oli visit to India.
The visit reaffirmed and elevated India-Nepal ties, building upon historical, cultural, and developmental linkages to promote deeper bilateral engagement across multiple dimensions. The visit concluded on August 18, setting the stage for further high-level engagements between the two countries.
[1] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2025). Press Release: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's Visit to Nepal. [online] Available at: https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32746/Press_Release_Foreign_Secretary_Vikram_Misri_s_Visit_to_Nepal
[2] Government of Nepal. (2025). Press Release: Nepal-India High-Level Dialogue. [online] Available at: https://www.mofa.gov.np/press-release/2025/08/nepal-india-high-level-dialogue
[3] India Today. (2025). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's Visit to Nepal: Key Takeaways. [online] Available at: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-s-visit-to-nepal-key-takeaways-1894562-2025-08-18
[4] The Himalayan Times. (2025). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Arrives in Kathmandu for Two-Day Visit. [online] Available at: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-arrives-in-kathmandu-for-two-day-visit/
[5] ANI. (2025). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Meets Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli, Discusses Ways to Deepen Cooperation. [online] Available at: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/south-asia/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-meets-nepali-pm-kp-sharma-oli-discusses-ways-to-deepen-cooperation20250817185737/
- The visit's prime focus on advancing cooperation in crucial areas such as connectivity, defense, and development revealed the Indian Foreign Secretary's general-news perspective on the significance of the Nepal-India relationship.
- In the realm of news and politics, Foreign Secretary Misri's invitation to Prime Minister Oli for an official India visit underlines the importance of both nations' opinions towards further boosting their ties, as detailed in the press releases from the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Government of Nepal.
