Prime Minister Sushila Karki and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will talk via telephone on Thursday morning and discuss the latest political situation of Nepal and the priorities of the new interim government.

This will be the first conversation of Karki with a foreign head of government after assuming office on September 12.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava paid a courtesy call on Karki at her office in Singha Durbar on Tuesday.

Srivastava conveyed the congratulatory message from the prime minister of India to Karki on being appointed the prime minister of Nepal and expressed India's commitment to work together for further strengthening the bond of friendship and cooperation between the two neighbours, the foreign ministry said after the meeting.

Officials said that Karki will discuss the latest political situation and priorities of her government including the elections scheduled for March 5 while seeking India’s support to make the elections a success.

In the first call, no detailed discussion will take place, an official close to Karki said. “We have yet to identify our needs for holding the elections and rebuilding various infrastructures [destroyed in last week’s arson and vandalism]. Their nitty-gritty will be discussed at a working level later,” the official added.

Modi has already congratulated Karki on being appointed the prime minister.

Addressing a mass meeting on Saturday, Modi said that from the soil of Manipur he was also speaking to “my friends in Nepal”.

“Nepal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, is a friend of India—a close and trusted friend. We are connected by a shared history, by shared faith, and we are moving forward together,” he told the gathering. On Saturday morning also, Modi congratulated the newly appointed prime minister of Nepal.

Issuing a statement, Modi had said, “I extend my best wishes to Karki on assuming office as the prime minister of the interim government of Nepal.”

India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the people of Nepal, he added.