Nepal, Oct. 16 -- India on Friday appointed senior diplomat Sudhakar Dalela as its next ambassador to Nepal, bringing an experienced South Asia specialist to the post as Kathmandu and New Delhi seek to expand cooperation in trade, connectivity, energy and regional affairs.

Dalela, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1993 batch who currently serves as a secretary at India's Ministry of External Affairs, is expected to take up his new assignment shortly, according to a statement issued by the Indian government on Friday.

He will succeed Naveen Srivastava, who took charge as India's ambassador to Nepal on June 25, 2022. Srivastava has served in Kathmandu for more than four years, overseeing a period of engagement in connectivity, cros...