Home Minister Gurung leaves for India to attend BIMSTEC meeting

KATHMANDU, Oct 12: Minister for Home Sudan Gurung left for India on Monday to attend a ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in New Delhi.

The visit marks Gurung’s first foreign trip since taking office. He is travelling to attend the regional meeting rather than for a bilateral visit.

The BIMSTEC home ministers’ meeting is scheduled for October 13 at the initiative of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.

Home ministers from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are expected to attend the meeting. Gurung is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, Shah.

However, high-level political meetings, including one with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have not been scheduled, according to Gurung’s secretariat.

Gurung is scheduled to return to Nepal on October 14.