Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has requested the Government of Qatar to include Nepali student Bipin Joshi in the list of hostages to be released by Hamas.
Minister Rana held a telephone conversation with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi on Tuesday afternoon and expressed her happiness over the breakthrough in the ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Rana expressed hope that the negotiation would lead to a much-awaited truce in the region.
The conversation also dealt with Nepal-Qatar relations with a special focus on Nepali migrant workers, according to the ministry’s social media post.
In response, Minister of State Al-Khulaifi maintained that Qatar highly values its relations with Nepal and, in the same vein, will work to place Mr. Joshi as part of their talking point.
Israel and Hamas are close to securing a ceasefire after talks facilitated by the Government of Qatar. According to CNN, officials have expressed cautious optimism that a deal could soon be announced to halt 15 months of fighting that has destabilized the Middle East and devastated Gaza, allow for more aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave, and ensure the return of dozens of hostages held by Hamas since its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Hon. Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a telephone conversation with H. E. Mr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar this morning.@Arzuranadeuba @amritrai555 @krishnadhakal07 pic.twitter.com/bdXQdDQC07
— MOFA of Nepal 🇳🇵 (@MofaNepal) January 14, 2025
