Kathmandu, Dec. 8
Foreign Minister NP Saud has
discussed the issue of the release of Bipin Joshi from Kanchanpur district of
Nepal with Gal Hirsch, Coordinator of Prisoners and Missing Persons at the
Israeli government.
He had a telephone conversation
with him on Friday afternoon as a continuation of his effort to ascertain the
current situation of Joshi, who had reached Israel under the 'Earn and Learn'
programme from the Sudurpashchim University, to ensure his safety and to secure
his early release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement.
During the conversation, Minister
Saud requested Hirsch that Joshi, who is said to be under the control of HAMAS,
a Palestinian rebel group, be ascertained through Israeli sources, to provide
him with a guarantee of protection and to give priority to Joshi in the first
phase of the release of prisoners under the control of HAMAS in future.
FM Saud also said that this
humanitarian assistance would have a special meaning in the context of Nepal's
historical relationship with Israel. In response, Harch assured that Israel
considers Joshi as a family member and will give priority to his release, read
the statement.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Saud
had asked Qatar's Ambassador Mishal Mohammed Al-Ansari to take all measures for
the release of Joshi. Qatar is mediating peace between Israel and HAMAS.
Ambassador Ansari had said that
the Qatari government was taking steps to stop the renewed war between Israel
and the rebel HAMAS. He said that efforts were also being made to release the
abductees including Nepali student Joshi.
Earlier, Minister Saud had asked
Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, to
take steps for Joshi's release. He had also called Israel's Ambassador Hanan
Goder to the ministry and talked about Joshi's release.
The Foreign Minister also said
that the issue of Joshi's release will be seriously raised during the
high-level meeting that he will take part in the Doha 21st Forum,
which is going to start on December 10 in Qatar.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 December 2023.
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