Qatari State Minister Assures Assistance for Release of Bipin Joshi

The Visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, met with Nepalese Foreign Minister NP Saud on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The focal point of the meeting was the appeal made by Minister Saud for the early release of Nepali national Bipin Joshi, who is held hostage by Hamas militants.

Minister Saud, during the discussions, formally requested the Qatari government to facilitate the swift release of Bipin Joshi.

In response, State Minister Al-Muraikhi expressed Qatar’s commitment to assisting in the timely release of Joshi.

This assurance was shared by the Nepalese Foreign Ministry in a tweet, stating, “The Foreigner Minister requested the State of Qatar to enable the early release of Nepali national Bipin Joshi. The State Minister of Qatar assured of help for the release of Mr. Joshi at the earliest.”

The surprise attack last month left 10 Nepali students, who had reached the West Asian country under a ‘Learn and Earn Programme’, dead and four others injured.

Joshi is one of the 17 Nepali students who were living at Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel, close to the Gaza Strip, and came under attack from the Islamist group that rules the strip, according to the foreign ministry.

On Monday, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) had said that Joshi was held hostage by the Hamas militants.

In addition to the bilateral matter, Foreign Minister Saud took the opportunity to commend Qatar for its mediation role in achieving a humanitarian pause in Gaza and securing the release of hostages. This acknowledgment underscores the positive diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar,  Al-Muraikhi, arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon, where he was warmly received by Foreign Secretary  Bharat Raj Paudyal at the Tribhuvan International Airport.