KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel met with the mother and sister of Bipin Joshi on Saturday, pledging to intensify government efforts to secure the release of the Nepali student held hostage by Hamas. The meeting followed the family’s return from a diplomatic visit to Israel, where they had directly appealed to top Israeli leaders.

During the meeting, Padma Joshi, Bipin’s mother, and Pushpa Joshi, his sister, shared details of their trip. They stated that with coordination from the Nepali Embassy in Israel, they had met with the Israeli President and Prime Minister, as well as ambassadors from various countries, which has elevated the issue to an international level. They urged President Paudel to make further efforts to free Bipin, emphasizing his status as an innocent student caught in a humanitarian crisis.

In response, President Paudel offered his reassurances, acknowledging the family’s pain and pledging to continue the government’s diplomatic push for Bipin’s safe return. The family, from Mahendranagar, has been at the forefront of the advocacy to bring their son home.