Efforts underway to bring back Nepali youths recruited by Russian army: Shreshta

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said that efforts were underway to bring back Nepali youths recruited into the Russian army.

Speaking at the meeting of the Federal Strengthening and National Concern Committee under the National Assembly on Monday, Shrestha said although Russia has agreed in principle to terminate the agreement that allowed Nepali citizens to join its army, the process is getting delayed due to difficulties in finalizing the modalities.

“The ministry is also taking initiatives to make public the status of Bipin Joshi who is in the custody of Hamas,” he added. “We have also requested countries mediating for peace in the war-torn region to take initiatives for Joshi’s release.”

Joshi, who went to Israel under an ‘earn and learn’ scholarship program of the Israeli government, has been missing since the Hamas attack in Israel in October last year. Ten Nepali students died in that attack.

Minister Shrestha also said that the Indian government is not willing to accept the report of the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations. “India should take the report positive and accept it,” he added

Likewise, he said that efforts were underway to resolve border disputes with India in Kalapani and Susta through diplomatic channels.