Five of the seven Saarc leaders who were here for the summit are flying back to their countries Thursday night after attending a dinner hosted by Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav.
Of the leaders who attended the two-day 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit here, only Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will be returning Friday, said media reports.
The heads of state and government from the Saarc member nations gathered Thursday evening at President Yadav’s official residence in Sheetal Niwas, Maharajgunj to attend a dinner banquet.
Following the dinner, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will be flying to their respective countries in special aircraft.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was earlier scheduled to board a special Indian Air Force jet to New Delhi at 8.15 p.m. However, his flight was delayed for some time, said the Himalayan Times.
“The Indian prime minister will fly back first,” Tribhuvan International Airport’s general manager Birendra Prasad Shrestha was quoted as saying.
The delay in Modi’s departure will affect the timings of other dignitaries.
After Modi, Sharif will board his plane.
It was learnt that Rajapaksa has offered a lift to his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Yameen in his special jet till Sri Lanka, said Nepali media reports.
“Prior to this, Yameen was scheduled to return to Maldives Thursday on a regular flight of Qatar Airways,” said the Ekantipur.
The Sri Lankan plane will depart after Sharif flies out.
Finally, Afghan President Ghani will board his plane. These flights are at an interval of 30 minutes.
(IANS)