KATHMANDU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and head of its Foreign Affairs Department, Vijay Chauthaiwale, met with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak at Singha Durbar today as part of his visit to Nepal.

The two held discussions centered on strengthening Nepal-India bilateral relations, which have seen periodic tensions in recent years.

Chauthaiwale landed in Kathmandu earlier this morning and is expected to hold meetings with several key political figures, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, leaders of the main opposition such as Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, as well as influential figures from the ruling coalition and Madheshi-based parties.

According to the Home Minister’s Secretariat, the meeting between Lekhak and Chauthaiwale was cordial and focused on enhancing mutual cooperation and fostering trust between the two nations.

Chauthaiwale’s ongoing visit is seen by observers as a diplomatic move to ease recent strains in Nepal-India ties and to open the door for Prime Minister Oli’s long-stalled official visit to India.

Chauthaiwale will return to India on Friday, wrapping up a tightly scheduled political engagement tour that many believe could help reset the tone of bilateral engagement between New Delhi and Kathmandu.