IA Kathmandu flights to resume within 15 days

Briefing newspersons, a foreign office spokesman said the Ministries of Civil Aviation of both countries would announce the dates for resumption of IA flights to Nepal.

Nepal’s Ambassador to India B B Thapa said that "direct flights to Nepal are likely to resume within the next 15 days."

All contentious issues relating to airport security, logistics and equipment at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport have been resolved and in a "matter of days" IA flight would resume, Thapa told newspersons on the sidelines of a meeting in honour of Bastola who arrived here on a four-day visit on May 7.

External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Meera Shankar said "all technical aspects have been resolved to mutual satisfaction. The Nepalese Government has taken certains steps which have been assessed by the Indian side positively."

At the meeting Bastola had with Home Minister L K Advani, the two sides discussed security related issues, a Home Ministry spokesman said. Home Secretary Kamal Pandey would be visiting Nepal next month to carry on the dialogue. Bastola also met Defence Minister George Fernandes.