KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane returned to Kathmandu on Friday following a five-day official visit to India at the invitation of BJP National President Nitin Nabin.

Speaking at Tribhuvan International Airport, Lamichhane labeled his visit “transparent and result-oriented,” noting that having Nepal’s Acting Ambassador present during talks with Indian and U.S. officials marked a departure from traditional, closed-door diplomacy.

He stated that the trip aimed to dismantle opaque bilateral habits and effectively “reset” Nepal-India relations on more open terms.

During high-level meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Home Minister Amit Shah, Lamichhane prioritized Nepal’s economic prosperity, discussing cooperation in IT, sports, connectivity, and religious tourism.

He emphasized that the border dispute must be managed through quiet, structured diplomacy rather than public fanfare, aligning with the official stance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Lamichhane also discussed improving embassy mechanisms for Nepali citizens in India and revealed that both PM Modi and the BJP President responded positively to invitations to visit Nepal.