In post-BRICS outreach, Jaishankar reaches Bhutan; Nepal Finance Minister to arrive in Delhi on September 17

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Thimphu on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) for a two-day visit to discuss India’s development assistance, while Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle will arrive in Delhi on Thursday (September 17, 2026) for talks that are expected to discuss India’s support for Nepal’s reconstruction post-floods, as the government intensifies its outreach in the neighbourhood.

Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to Colombo, in the first such visit by an Indian Defence Minister in nearly four decades, to strengthen strategic ties.

Mr. Jaishankar met with Bhutan Foreign Minister Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel for bilateral discussions at Bumthang in central Bhutan. “Our conversation focused on advancing our multifaceted engagement in development partnership, energy, trade, connectivity, culture, and people-to-people ties,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post.