Bipin will be released soon, says Foreign Minister Rana after meeting with Qatari State Minister

Following a meeting with Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar on Sunday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba expressed her optimism that Bipin Joshi will be released soon.

Minister Rana Deuba, who is currently in Oman to attend the 8th Indian Ocean Conference 2025, held a meeting with Sultan Al Muraikhi on the sideline of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference 2025 this afternoon.

Taking to social media platform X, Minister Rana said, "We also discussed efforts to secure the release of Mr. Bipin Joshi, who has been held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023. We hope Mr. Joshi will be released soon."

The meeting centered around matters ranging from Nepal-Qatar relations to bilateral and multilateral cooperation and need for skilled technical workers to scholarship opportunities for Nepali students in Qatar.

Minister Rana on Friday left for Oman at the invitation of her Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Oman, to attend the conference, themed ‘Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership,’ is being held in Muscat.

During the conference, Minister Rana will address the plenary session titled ‘Amplifying the Voice of the Global South,’ highlighting Nepal’s perspectives on regional and global cooperation.

In addition to her conference engagements, the Foreign Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, and Minister for Energy and Minerals, among other senior officials.

As part of her itinerary, Rana will hold a virtual meeting with Nepali Ambassadors and Heads of Mission based in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. She will also address the Nepali community residing in Muscat, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the diaspora.

Minister Rana will return home on February 20.