Indian Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the death of former Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and noted his contribution to Indo-Nepal ties. 

She said Koirala led his country during extremely difficult and testing times and contributed immensely to its transition into a republic.

His contribution to fostering Indi-Nepal ties will always be remembered, she said in a statement. Koirala, during whose tenure Nepal promulgated its new constitution in September last year to complete the long-drawn peace process, died today after a bout of pneumonia.

Seventy-seven-year-old Koirala had served as Nepal’s Prime Minister from February 2014 to October 2015 and was the president of Nepali Congress.