The agenda of the release of Bipin Joshi, the Nepali student who has been in Palestinian militant group Hamas’s captivity since October 7, will figure during the upcoming Nepal visit of the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Sunday.

While addressing the fourth convocation ceremony of the far-west university on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chancellor of the University, said that the government has made necessary diplomatic efforts for Joshi’s release.

Joshi was abducted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Ten Nepali students were killed in the armed attack.

Over 49 students of Sudurpaschim University studying in the faculty of agriculture science had gone to Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ programme just a month before the attack. All other students, except for Joshi, were repatriated soon after the attack.

Since then, Joshi’s family members have been pleading with the government for his safe release.

“The incident where our students who were working in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ programme has saddened us all,” Prime Minister Dahal said while addressing the convocation ceremony.

Dahal added that the role that Qatar can play in helping release Joshi will be an agenda during the Emir’s visit. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is arriving in Kathmandu on Tuesday on a two-day state visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday. This will be the first highest-level visit to Nepal from the Emir of the Gulf country since the two sides established diplomatic relations in 1977.

The Emir’s visit will hold special significance in terms of Joshi’s release since Qatar has been playing the role of a mediator between Israel and Hamas after October 7. Qatar helped broker a brief ceasefire deal between the two parties in November and release over 100 hostages held by the militant group. Hamas has its political office in Doha, the Qatari capital.

While in Nepal, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Dahal on Wednesday. The two countries are also expected to sign about nine agreements during the visit.

Qatar, a high-income country which is among the major labour destinations for Nepalis, is looking to invest in some big projects in Nepal.

Published on: 22 April 2024 | The Kathmandu Post