Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal's First Month in Office: A Review

Kathmandu. Baisakh 12. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has completed one month in office. He was appointed as the Foreign Minister on Chaitra 13. Immediately after taking charge, Minister Khanal decided to expand the online system of the Department of Consular Services with the aim of providing fast, easy, and effective services to service seekers. This was his first decision. He also directed the ministry staff to work in a more innovative and result-oriented manner according to public expectations. 

From the very next day, meetings and further directive activities began. The following day, foreign ministers from countries including India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Israel, Ukraine, and Jordan extended their best wishes and congratulations through various mediums. Subsequently, meetings with ambassadors based in Nepal commenced. During this one-month period, Foreign Minister Khanal has met with more than 20 ambassadors. 

During this period, he has held meetings with resident and non-resident ambassadors from countries including India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Israel, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Korea, Canada, France, Australia, and Lithuania, as well as representatives from the United Nations (UN) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). All meetings were held at the ministry. 

The first courtesy call with Minister Khanal was held with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, followed by a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador the next day. Subsequently, ambassadors from other countries held meetings in sequence. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the discussions primarily focused on strengthening bilateral relations with Nepal, expanding economic and investment cooperation, labor migration, tourism, hydropower, agriculture, climate change, education, and development partnerships. 

Specifically, discussions with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE emphasized the welfare of Nepali workers, labor relations, and investment promotion. Similarly, in meetings with ambassadors from France, Germany, the UK, the US, and Japan, views were exchanged on expanding cooperation in issues such as development assistance, technology transfer, and climate change, the ministry stated. 

Likewise, in a meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator, discussions were held on making Nepal-UN cooperation more effective. During this period, Foreign Minister Khanal has emphasized strengthening relations with neighboring countries based on trust, cooperation, and mutual interest, while giving special priority to Nepal-India and Nepal-China relations. 

According to Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri, Minister Khanal aims to make international relations result-oriented by keeping economic diplomacy, digital service delivery, and good governance as top priorities in the coming days.

First Foreign Visit

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal made his first foreign visit to Mauritius. He departed for the country on Chaitra 26. He arrived there to participate in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, from Chaitra 27, at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The event was organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius.
During the same visit, he held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Chaitra 27. During that meeting, the visit of Nepal's Prime Minister Balen to India was finalized. During the same trip, he also met with foreign ministers from various countries, including Bangladesh and Bhutan. 

First High-Level Visit

After the formation of the government under Balen, the first high-level visit from the United States took place. The visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, occurred on Baisakh 7. During the same visit, Lu met with Foreign Minister Khanal.

Controversy over Amrit Jha's Release 

Although Foreign Minister Khanal's one-month tenure is considered successful, he was embroiled in controversy regarding the release of Amrit Jha, who was arrested in Iran. On Baisakh 2, Minister Khanal informed via his social media handle X that Nepali citizen Amrit Jha, who was arrested in Iran, had been released. After he made the announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed it by issuing a statement.

However, Amrit Jha's family later informed that he had not been released. This caused some controversy, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated during its regular press conference on Baisakh 11 that Amrit's release process is underway and he will be released soon.

Foreign Minister Khanal stated that Nepal's Consulate General in Iran and the Nepali Embassy in Qatar are in constant contact with Jha and necessary diplomatic and procedural work is being carried out. Minister Khanal also informed that the work to complete the necessary formalities for his return home is being done rapidly. 

Group Meeting with Ambassadors, Training for Ministers

After Balen was appointed Prime Minister, ambassadors from various countries wanted to meet him to offer congratulations and best wishes, which had been a long-standing tradition. However, instead of meeting the ambassadors individually, Prime Minister Balen called everyone to his office on Chaitra 25 for a collective meeting. That was not just a meeting; the ambassadors were also briefed on Nepal's foreign policy. This was a new effort in the diplomatic field. 

On the same day, Foreign Ministry Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai provided training on diplomatic code of conduct to the newly appointed ministers at the Prime Minister's Office. This was also considered a new effort in the diplomatic field. The event was attended by Foreign Minister Khanal, Prime Minister's Political Advisor Asim Shah, Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, and other high-ranking government officials. 

The program provided information on etiquette and diplomatic code of conduct to be followed during contacts and meetings with foreign governments, diplomatic missions, and officials. 

Discussions with Diplomatic Missions

Foreign Minister Khanal also held virtual discussions with Nepali diplomatic missions in various countries. He held virtual discussions with Nepali diplomatic missions in West Asia and Africa on Baisakh 3, in South Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific region on Baisakh 4, and in Europe and America on Baisakh 7. 

Discussions were held on the security situation of Nepali citizens in those countries, the status of service delivery, adopted innovative practices, and the priorities of the missions. Foreign Minister Khanal emphasized the government's priority of strengthening economic diplomacy by keeping good governance and economic prosperity at the center. 

In discussions with missions in South Asia and East Asia, Minister Khanal stated that the government's goal is to ensure good governance through the improvement of service delivery and contribute to the country's economic prosperity through strengthened economic diplomacy. 

Discussion with Journalists

Foreign Minister Khanal held a discussion with editors and writers of various media outlets on Baisakh 7. In that discussion, he informed about how Nepal is also affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the work the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been doing to resolve it. 

The Government of Nepal welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran by issuing a statement on Chaitra 25. The government stated that it considers the agreement a positive step towards reducing rising tensions in West Asia.

The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the belief that the ceasefire would provide an opportunity for dialogue, diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of differences. Considering this an important progress towards promoting regional peace and stability, Nepal reiterated its consistent position that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means. 

Arrangement of Special Flights

On the initiative of Foreign Minister Khanal, Nepal Airlines Corporation decided to operate special flights from April 3 to 5. According to the ministry, the decision was made at a meeting held in the Foreign Minister's office on Chaitra 18. 

The meeting discussed facilitating the travel needs of Nepali citizens in the Gulf region and continuing international air connectivity. Due to the tense security situation in West Asia, regular flights to those destinations had been suspended since Falgun 16. The ministry stated that the decision to operate special flights was made keeping that situation in mind. 

Telephone Conversations with Foreign Ministers of UAE and Portugal

Foreign Minister Khanal and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a telephone conversation on the evening of Chaitra 23. The ministry stated that views on the latest situation in West Asia were exchanged during the conversation. During the conversation, Minister Khanal expressed Nepal's solidarity with the UAE and strongly condemned the attacks on sovereign territory. He expressed serious concern over the attacks on important structures such as civilian and energy infrastructure, ports, and airports. 

Minister Khanal also raised the issue of the death of a Nepali youth and injuries to 24 other Nepalis in the incident. Similarly, on Chaitra 18, Foreign Minister Khanal held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, Paulo Rangel. Minister Khanal requested the resolution of legal and procedural complexities faced by more than 2,000 Nepali citizens living in Portugal.

Discussion on the Draft of the Non-Resident Nepali Act 

Foreign Minister Khanal held a discussion with the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) on the draft of the Non-Resident Nepali Act on Baisakh 10. He informed that there is a plan to present the draft bill in the upcoming parliamentary session. Mentioning that it is necessary to clearly express the rights and aspirations envisioned by the constitution, he said that clarity is needed in both its conceptual basis and practical implementation.