Kathmandu- Nepal’s Home Minister Sudan Gurung has called for stronger regional security cooperation and a coordinated disaster preparedness framework at the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi, India, on October 13, 2026.
The meeting concluded with the issuance of the Delhi Declaration, reaffirming member states’ commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation. Gurung thanked the Government of India, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and the BIMSTEC Secretariat for organizing the meeting, held 29 years after BIMSTEC’s establishment.
Addressing the meeting, Gurung identified terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, illicit financial flows and cybercrime as major regional security challenges. He stressed the need for effective information sharing, technology and knowledge exchange, and coordinated action among member states to tackle these threats.
Highlighting recent floods in Bhotekoshi, Manang–Mustang and the Budhi Gandaki area of Gorkha, Gurung emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in disaster management. He called for a regional disaster preparedness and response framework, along with a joint task force capable of responding to emergencies across diverse geographical areas, from the Himalayas to the sea.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Gurung held discussions with Indian Home Minister Amit Shah on cooperation regarding shared security concerns. He also raised technical challenges faced by Nepali businesses in accessing the Indian market, particularly those related to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.
According to the statement, the Indian home minister responded positively to the concerns raised by Gurung.
