Prime Minister Dahal Urgently Appeals to Qatar for Release of Nepali National Bipin Joshi from Hamas Captivity

In a diplomatic move, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, ‘Prachanda,’ has formally requested the Qatari government’s cooperation in securing the release of Bipin Joshi from the captivity of Hamas. The plea was made during a courtesy call by the visiting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, on Friday morning, as detailed in a press release by the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal expressed gratitude for Qatar’s mediation efforts leading to a humanitarian pause in Gaza and the release of hostages. The discussions delved into matters of mutual interest, spanning trade, investment, development cooperation, and the employment of Nepali nationals in Qatar.

Earlier in the day, Minister Al-Muraikhi met with Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, where both sides expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relations. The officials agreed to explore potential areas of collaboration, including investment, education, sports, exchange programs, scholarships, and the employment of skilled and semi-skilled Nepali nationals in Qatar.

While acknowledging Qatar’s pivotal role in Gaza and the release of hostages, Minister Saud reiterated the request for Qatar’s facilitation in the early release of Bipin Joshi. The Qatari delegation assured the Nepali side of their ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages and improve the humanitarian situation.

A bilateral meeting between the Qatari delegation and Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal took place later in the day. Both sides reviewed various aspects of their bilateral relations. Foreign Secretary Paudyal, expressing satisfaction with progress in different sectors, appealed for Nepal’s inclusion in the skilled category for labor supply to Qatar. Additionally, he requested special access for Nepali products in Qatari markets and extended development cooperation through the Qatar Fund for Development.

To conclude the visit, Foreign Minister Saud hosted a luncheon to welcome the Qatari delegation. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, and his delegation departed for Doha in the evening, concluding their two-day official visit to Nepal. The Qatari delegation received a farewell from Foreign Secretary Paudyal and other senior officials at the Tribhuvan International Airport.