DADELDHURA, Jan 12: Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, said that the Joint Boundary Working Group was working to resolve the border issues between Nepal and India. 

At a press meet organized by Nepal Press Union, Dadeldhura, today, Minister Saud shared that there were many agreements reached between Nepal and India on the border-related matters other than Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Susta. 

"Many agreements have been reached on the border except for Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Susta. During border mapping and demarcation of the borders in the past, some places of Nepal had come on the Indian side while some Indian side's places to the Nepal side," said the Minister, adding that the Joint Boundary Working Group was working on it and the task was progressing on consent. 

Stating that the Government of Nepal was fully aware about its border and the land under its ownership, Minister Saud said that efforts were being made to resolve the border issue through talks, discussions and diplomatic initiatives. 

On a different note, the minister said that the Indian Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar's recent visit to Nepal was meaningful, important and fruitful. 

During his Indian counterpart's visit, agreements on various issues such as exporting 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India within the next 10 years, implementation of the Pancheshwar Hydropower Project, bringing Indian grant amounting to Rs 10 billion for the quake-survivors of Jajarkot district among others, were reached, Minister Saud said. 

"The Indian Minister for External Affairs’ visit to Nepal was meaningful to take forward the bilateral relations." 

‘Pancheshwar project has reached point of breakthrough’

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Saud claimed that the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project has reached the breakthrough point. According to him, preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project had reached the final stage and the project's breakthrough was likely in a few days.

Minister Saud argued that the construction of the Pancheshwar project would be beneficial for the entire country, not only for Sudurpaschim folks, expressing the belief that the project would help create employment. 

He further said that the number of youths going for overseas employment would decrease if the construction of Pancheshwar, West Seti, Arun III and Upper Karnali hydropower projects could be forwarded.

The foreign minister shared that the government was effortful to release Bipin Joshi of Kanchanpur, who is in the captivity of Hamas in Israel.

"We have urged the Israeli government time and again for the release of Bipin. I have also requested the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister of Qatar for the same," he mentioned.

Minister Saud expressed the belief that Bipin would be released during the second ceasefire. The foreign minister clarified that those Nepalis who joined the Russian Army, were not recruited there after taking the permission of the Government of Nepal. 

He shared that 10 Nepalis had lost their lives in Russia so far and diplomatic initiative was underway to bring the bodies to Nepal. "Apart from this, 133 families have requested that their family members have reached Russia and are at risk. So we have taken initiatives to make arrangements for their repatriation," said Minister Saud. 

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