Kathmandu, Sept 18: Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki will hold a telephone conversation with her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, today.
“The Prime Minister will speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday,” a Foreign Ministry source told Bahirakari, adding that the talks will cover assistance for the upcoming elections and cooperation in post-earthquake reconstruction.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava had paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Karki on Tuesday. It was during that meeting that both sides agreed on the telephone call.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Srivastava conveyed Modi’s congratulatory message to Karki on her appointment as Nepal’s Prime Minister. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to work with Nepal to further strengthen the close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two neighbors.
Prime Minister Modi had congratulated Karki immediately after her appointment, both on social media and during a public address in Manipur, where he spoke briefly about Nepal’s recent political developments and said he looked forward to engaging with Nepal “from Manipur itself.”
“Nepal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, is a friend and close partner of India. We are bound by shared history, faith, and a common future,” Modi said, praising Nepal–India relations.
Modi said he congratulated Karki on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, expressing confidence that her leadership as head of Nepal’s interim government would pave the way for peace, stability, and prosperity. “Her appointment as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister is an excellent example of women’s empowerment,” he said, adding that he admired the Nepali people for upholding democratic values even in turbulent times.
Last Friday, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Karki as Prime Minister of the interim government as proposed by the Gen Z protest movement. Modi was quick to extend congratulations on social media platform X, writing, “Heartfelt best wishes to Honorable Sushila Karki on taking charge as Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government. India remains fully committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the brothers and sisters of Nepal.”
Modi congratulated Karki two days in a row, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs also issued a statement late Friday expressing confidence that her leadership would promote peace and stability in Nepal. “As a close neighbor, democratic partner, and long-term development ally, India will continue working closely with Nepal for the welfare and prosperity of both peoples and nations,” the MEA statement read.
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