Nepal Premier K.P. Sharma Oli sought to break the ice that had settled on bilateral relations with India over the past few months with a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday afternoon that was described by both sides as a courtesy call on India’s Independence Day.

The two Prime Ministers are said to have steered clear of the irritant that soured relations this summer after Kathmandu released a new Nepal map that included three areas that India claims — Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura —in retaliation to New Delhi’s inauguration of a new road via Lipu Lekh to Kailash Mansarovar.

Nor, sources said, did Modi and Oli discuss scheduling a meeting of the foreign secretary mechanism to address the boundary issues.

According to readouts issued by the two foreign ministries, the two Prime Ministers discussed the Covid-19 situation and Oli congratulated Modi on India’s election to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.

The telephone conversation — the first in four months of strain — comes days before a scheduled meeting of the joint oversight mechanism set up in 2016 to review ongoing bilateral economic and development projects. Earlier in the day, Oli had tweeted an Independence Day greeting to Modi, which was duly acknowledged.

“Congratulations and greetings to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Government and people of India on the happy occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Best wishes for more progress and prosperity of the people of India,” Oli had tweeted.

Modi replied: “Thank you PM @kpsharmaoli Ji for the Independence Day wishes.”