Nepali embassy in Pakistan has taken initiative for the release of a Nepali national Tilak Bahadur Thapa Magar currently serving prison term in Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Nepali ambassador to Pakistan Bharat Raj Poudyal, who is also concurrently accreditated to Afghanistan, on Saturday, handed over a letter by the then Prime Minister of Nepal Baburam Bhattarai to Afghan President Hamid Karzai requesting clemency for Thapa Magar.

In his meeting with the President Karzai in the course of presenting his letter of credence as ambassador of Nepal, Poudyal outlined the clean and unproblematic antecedents of Thapa Magar and explained the reasons for seeking pardon from the highest level of the Afghan government so that he could return to Nepal as soon as possible. “The president keenly examined the letter and handed over the same to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul, who was also present with the President during the meeting, for needful consideration,” said a statement issued by Nepalese Embassy in Pakistan.

Ambassador Poudyal had presented letter of credence to Afghan President Karzai amidst a special ceremony held at the presidential palace in Kabul.

While receiving the ambassador at his office, President Hamid Karzai expressed keen interests in the history and political development of Nepal in recent years and asked the envoy to convey his greetings and best wishes to the President of Nepal. “The President also highlighted the traditionally warm and friendly relations between the two countries and the peoples,” the statement said.

Ambassador Paudyal also attended a gathering organized by the Nepali community in Kabul and discussed the nature of the problems they are facing while taking up employment there. Members of the Nepali community working in different UN agencies and other international organizations as well as those working for different security companies were present on the occasion.

The ambassador is scheduled to have courtesy meetings with high ranking dignitaries of the Afghan Government in Kabul on 5th and 6th of May 2013.

Published on: 6 May 2013 | Republica