India has shown positive response to provide more air routes to Nepal.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Gyawali, who reached New Delhi Thursday morning, held a meeting with Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj at the latter’s office have received optimistic feedback for providing additional air route as per demand of Nepal since long time.
According to one official, Minister Gyawali urged Minister Swaraj to provide additional air route stating that Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) will come in operation very soon.
Responding to Minsiter Gyawali’s demand, Minister Swaraj said that India has taken this matter in positive way.
A joint meeting of High Commissioner of Nepal and India held in Kathmandu 8 months ago, had agreed to give additional airways to Nepal. 4 months later, India said that it will be unable to permit Nepal further air routes in another high-level meeting held in Delhi.
Fortunately, from the meeting held on Thursday (January 10) between Minister Gyanwali and Indian counterpart Swaraj, it has been revealed that positive measures have been made to provide additional airways to Nepal.
Previously, India agreed to permit Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi air route and to make two-ways air route of Biratnagar-Janakpur. Even India agreed to make Nepalgunj as entry point.
Similarly, both Ministers have discussed regarding various types of Nepal-India relations.
During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal-India relations while reviewing progress on the ongoing bilateral cooperation projects. They noted with satisfaction the progress made in several areas and underscored the need to continue the momentum, according to a press statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.
In addition, the previous meeting between high officials have made the centuries-old Nepal-India relationship stronger based on equality, mutual trust, respect and mutual benefit.
According to the statement, the two ministers agreed to hold a fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission in Nepal at an earliest convenient date. The External Affairs Minister of India hosted luncheon in honor of the Minister Gyawali and accompanying officials.
Minister Gyawali also addressed the Raisina Dialogue 2019.
