Kathmandu, Aug 18 (NationPress) The Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri, officially presented light strike vehicles, vital medical equipment for critical care, and military animals to Nepal's Chief of Army Staff, Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, during a special event at the Nepali Army headquarters in Kathmandu.

According to a post on X by the Indian Embassy in Nepal, "In a significant step towards strengthening defence cooperation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri delivered Light Strike Vehicles, Critical Care Medical Equipment, and Military Animals to Suprabal Janasewashree Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS of the Nepali Army, at a unique ceremony at the Nepali Army HQ in Kathmandu. This transfer signifies the strong bond between our military forces and our robust defence collaboration, reflecting the trust and partnership that has defined our enduring relationship."

The military supplies provided by Foreign Secretary Misri comprised six light strike vehicles, two military dogs for breeding purposes, six army horses, and a shipment of medical supplies. Prior to the handover, Misri engaged in talks with General Ashok Raj Sigdel, where they discussed bilateral interests and ways to enhance defence relations.

Misri arrived in Nepal on Sunday for a two-day visit after receiving an invitation from his Nepalese counterpart, Amrit Bahadur Rai. During this visit, he interacted with Nepal's President, Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

On Sunday, Misri also held discussions with Amrit Bahadur Rai, covering various topics including trade, connectivity, and development cooperation.

"Foreign Secretary Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai held bilateral talks with India's Foreign Secretary, Shri Vikram Misri, in Kathmandu today. Their discussions spanned multiple issues, including connectivity, trade, and development cooperation, highlighting the strong ties between our nations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal shared on X.

Moreover, Misri met Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation across several sectors.

The Indian Embassy in Nepal stated on X, "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the Rt. Hon'ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli. FS reiterated the profound civilizational links and the strong India-Nepal partnership while discussing further ways to deepen collaboration across various sectors."

Misri also visited Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel to convey greetings from Indian leadership, and during their meeting, he updated the President on the advancements in bilateral relations.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the Rt. Hon'ble President of Nepal, Mr. Ramchandra Paudel, delivering greetings from the Indian leadership and briefing the President on the progress in bilateral relations," the Indian Embassy posted on X.

Additionally, Misri met with Nepal's Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, where they exchanged ideas on enhancing the multifaceted partnership between the two nations across all sectors.

The Indian Embassy noted, "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, leading to a substantial dialogue on mutual interests and strategies to strengthen the comprehensive India-Nepal partnership across all sectors."

In a statement released on Friday ahead of Misri's visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized: "India and Nepal enjoy a profound and friendly relationship, which has seen tangible progress in recent years across various cooperation areas. India prioritizes its relations with Nepal as part of its Neighbourhood First policy. The upcoming visit of the Foreign Secretary continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between our countries and provides an opportunity to further develop our bilateral ties."