'We have to learn to navigate through wolf world'

Marc Saxer is a political analyst and author who has lived and worked in Asia for two decades. He recently published Geopolitical Conflict in the Wolf World: Great Power Competition and the Illiberal Revolt against the Liberal Order. Ritu Raj Subedi, Modnath Dhakal and Arpana Adhikari caught up with Saxer to talk about his book, changing world order and international cooperation while he was in Kathmandu to launch the book. Excerpts:

The very term 'Wolf World' in the name of your book gives an impression of a dreadful picture of the global system. What kind of world is it actually? Could you briefly describe it?

The 'wolf world' is actually an analogy presented in a book by Thomas Hobbes in the 17th century during the English Civil War. Referring to the violence, anarchy, and upheaval then, he famously said, when the law of the jungle rules, a man is another man's wolf. I'm using this quote because I believe that after the end of the American-led world order. What is being called the liberal world order is actually a world in disorder.

This is backed by numbers as well. The Peace Research Institute of Oslo has measured that in 2025 there was more violent conflict and interstate war since World War II. So, you see that after the end of Pax Americana, violence is really flaring up all over the world. We have two major wars in Europe and the Middle East, and we have a situation where the rules of the game are eroding very fast. Great powers are ridiculing the rules, let alone disobeying them. That creates a new disorder in the world. The title of the book alludes to this danger. As you said, it's dreadful; it's not a good world that is emerging. But what the book does is actually exploring ways how to manoeuvre it, how to navigate it, and how to overcome it.

The Pax Americana is fading, with the world moving into a chaotic multipolar world order. Are you still nostalgic for Pax Americana?

I've been in Asia for 20 years, especially in this part of the world. What people tell me is, there's never been a liberal world order. This has always been a 'wolf world'. I understand that criticism has a lot to do with the double standards of the West, and also with the situation elsewhere. The world was indeed always a violent place. But as I said, it is getting increasingly more violent everywhere, and the trend will continue. So, I'm not nostalgic for Pax Americana, but I would say that a world that has some order, has some rules of the game, is a world that is more stable and therefore is less violent than an anarchical world.

The liberal order is cracking under the weight of its own internal structural contradictions, like that of the collapse of communism in the early 1990s. Wasn't it inevitable?

It is a twin crisis of liberalism. There is a mutual-reinforcing cycle where you see, on the one hand, that whatever you may want to call the liberal world order is collapsing. And this has implications for the hegemony of liberal thought within our liberal democracies. And this process is really reinforcing. This is not something that happened overnight. The collapse or the erosion of the liberal world order has a lot to do with the re-emergence of great powers, including China and India. So, this historical anomaly that the United States was so powerful, what you call the unipolar moment, is over. And you see that the United States is structurally overstretched militarily, financially, and politically.

Militarily, because there are three main primary theatres of geopolitical conflict where the US hegemony is simultaneously challenged. That is by Russia and Europe, by Iran and the Middle East, and by China and East Asia, which is still peaceful. For all the great powers, there is a zero-sum game between these theatres. Russia is bogged down in Ukraine. It lost Syria in the Middle East. The US is bogged down in the Persian Gulf. On the very contrary, you see the US is actually pulling out its navy from the South China Sea. It's pulling out its missile defence from the Korean Peninsula. It's pulling out paratroopers from Japan in order to sustain its war effort. So, that means it's militarily overstretched. The US is going towards US$39 trillion in debt. It has lost its AAA rating. So, the issue of the world reserve currency now has question marks over its fiscal sustainability.

An illiberal government in the White House has declared the very order that the United States has founded and guaranteed for 80 years obsolete. So, Trump is directly attacking not only liberal institutions in the US, but also liberal institutions on the global level. The USA has dismantled the liberal mission, which is promoting democracy and human rights, and is attacking directly free trade and the liberal international economic order. And it is defunding multilateralism, the United Nations, treaties like the Climate Treaty, COP, etc. So, the liberal hegemon is declaring the order that it founded and led for 80 years obsolete. What Francis Fukuyama called the end of history is basically the idea that somehow, at some point, all of us will develop into illiberal democracy.

You are prescribing a new social contract for the survival of liberalism. But your recipe also appears fragile in the wolf world. Who will be the real parties to this new global deal?

We have to be a bit careful if we talk about the West or if we talk about any other countries like Nepal while assigning the categories. However, I am of the strong view that the social contract is also obsolete in Europe. Basically, the economic model that was sustaining the German economy, the French economy, the Swedish economy, and even the US economy is no longer working. And you basically have to change almost every paradigm from defence policy to foreign, energy, industrial, fiscal, education, and migration policies.

In the last 30 years of German politics, nothing has happened that was more costly than 0.1 per cent of the GDP. All the political battles, all the political upheavals, governments are falling over 0.1 per cent of GDP. And now you want to redistribute 5 per cent of GDP. How do you finance that? You can either cut the welfare state and end the social transfers to the lower third of the population. You can tax the working middle class, or you can basically tax the rich. None of that is possible in the existing social contract, which means the social contract is obsolete. So, you see several political upheavals. Why there is a new prime minister in Great Britain every six months. Why is there such a fragile government in Germany? Why is there a possibility that France goes to the right wing? Because the social contract is obsolete. It no longer works. So, if you say what I'm suggesting is fragile, that's correct. But what I say is that the old social contract is over anyway, and we have to really think about what new social contract could actually work in this world.

The shift to the might-based international order from the rule-based one has wearied the nations and people alike. What will its implications be for peace and development?

Unfortunately, one of the major differences is that war as a means of politics, as Carl von Clausewitz said, is back. We see that in action everywhere. Coercion as a means of geoeconomics is back. We see that everywhere. So, basically, it's not only that there is no longer universally accepted rules, but also the unwritten rules of the game of change.

You cannot have export-led growth in a protectionist world. And you cannot do catch-up industrialisation if technology transfers are weaponised, if value chains are weaponised. And if industrial policy in every major economy, especially China, means that there is so much overcapacity that these industrial overcapacities would be dumped in your market, which would wipe out your domestic industries, and that actually means de-industrialisation. So, for a lot of countries in the region, development now is going backwards. And that means, in the wolf world, we have to learn how to manoeuvre between great powers not only if there is rivalry, but also when it comes to economic development.

Where do you get your energy, critical minerals and weapons if it's no longer possible to buy it on the world market? Geo-economics means that the main distribution mechanism is no longer a free market. Most of the countries in the region are saying that they want to hedge and balance. It sounds very good on paper, but if you need to do all the things that you need to do, you need to be aligned.

You have suggested Europe should focus on territorial defense, stabilisation of its neighbourhood, selective hedging among great powers and pursuit of strategic autonomy within a reformed EU. Can this idea be exported to other regions, such as SAARC and ASEAN?

Let’s start with Europe, because Europe is currently in a very vulnerable position for several reasons. First, the EU is a historically unique experiment, a kind of super-state built through treaties and law rather than as a traditional nation-state. It is, in a sense, a micro rule-based order. The question is whether such a rule-based order like Europe can survive in a wolf world where rules are increasingly being challenged.

Second, Europe has a war on its flank and there is growing doubt about the United States as a security guarantor.  The US has usually performed two functions. First, it secure Europe by keeping Russia out and second securing smaller European state against German hegemony. If the US withdraws as an offshore balancer, fears of German hegemony could return and potentially weaken the EU.

Third, Europe has lost ground economically and technically. I think Europe is in a very difficult situation and is vulnerable. Therefore, I would argue that Europe should focus on its own continent rather than distant regions where it has limited core interests. This strategy cannot simply be exported elsewhere. There is no other region as integrated as Europe. ASEAN comes closest, but it too faces internal divisions, with some members aligned with China and others with the US. And ASEAN has the principle to make decision unanimously. So that means both superpowers have veto power, which means that ASEAN could be paralyzed. So that means even ASEAN has big trouble and SAARC is not even close to that.

What should be the strategies of small nations like Nepal in the great power game?

Obviously, I’m not an expert on Nepal, but I can share what I have learned from other countries. If there is no consensus on a country’s overall geopolitical posture, external power will exploit it. If political camps orient towards different sides, the country can become a chessboard for great powers to divide and rule.

Domestic politics should be contested; that’s democracy. But when it comes to foreign policy, there should be some broad consensus, not on every policy but on the country’s overall orientation, whether to lean towards one side or the other, or remain neutral. Such consensus can help shield the country from external meddling.

Located between the two giants’ neighbours, Nepal faces difficulty in navigating geopolitical challenges. As a geopolitical expert, what would you like  to suggest for it to tackle problems in its neighbourhood as well as benefit from them?

Nepal’s greatest challenge is obviously being a landlocked country, with only two neighbours. It may be useful to look at Mongolia, which also has two large neighbours, Russia and China. Mongolia has developed a ‘third neighbour policy’ engaging countries such as the US, European states, Japan and South Korea, among others, to create more options and reduce its vulnerability. If you only have two borders, you cannot escape that reality. But engaging other countries gives you more options and having more options is certainly better than having none.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 20 August 2026.   

One Nepali killed in Kuwait drone attack

Kathmandu, July 31

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait has confirmed the death of Nepali national Som Kumar Tamang, 44, from Tehrathum district, in a drone attack on Thursday.

The Embassy of Nepal in Kuwait informed in a statement on Friday that official confirmation has been received from Kuwait's foreign ministry regarding the tragic incident.

Tamang, who was employed as a driver in Kuwait, was killed following a drone attack in the northern region of Kuwait on July 30.

The Embassy expressed its grief over the death of Tamang, paid heartfelt tribute, and offered prayers for the peace of the departed soul.

"The Embassy is actively working in co-ordination with the relevant authorities to complete all necessary formalities, including the swift repatriation of Tamang’s mortal remains to Nepal," it informed in a statement.

Stating the situation as sensitive, it has advised all Nepalis in Kuwait to exercise restraint, remain in safe locations, and strictly observe all safety guidelines issued by the Government of Kuwait.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 August 2026.         

FM Khanal inquires Nepali POWs in Ukraine

Kathmandu, Apr. 30

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal held telephone talk on detention of Nepali nationals in Ukraine as Prisoners of War (POWs) with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha on Thursday.

He received a telephone call from FM Sybiha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal informed in a statement.

FM Khanal informed the Ukrainian counterpart that Nepal does not allow recruitment of Nepali citizens in any foreign army except in those countries with whom Nepal has traditional agreements.

He strongly requested the Ukrainian Government to release and return, on humanitarian ground, all nine Nepali nationals taken into detention by the Ukrainian forces.

"Sybiha assured Minister Khanal that the Ukrainian side is open to discuss on this issue," read the statement.  

On the occasion, Sybiha expressed his best wishes for a successful tenure of FM Khanal. 

The two leaders also talked about Nepal-Ukraine relations. They expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, including agriculture, tourism and education.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 May 2026.          

Uncertainty persists for work permits for West Asian nations

Kathmandu, Apr. 10

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Friday that the government is still evaluating the situation in West Asia to decide whether to issue new labour permits.

The Department of Foreign Employment, an agency under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) has begun to issue labour permits for those seeking re-entry to the countries in the West Asian region, including the Gulf, after a brief halt.

But issuing new permits is still under consideration, said Ram Kaji Khadka, Joint Secretary and Head of the Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division at the MoFA, informed at a press conference organised on Friday afternoon.

“However, we are hopeful of an improved situation following the ceasefire and expect a positive move in terms of opening labour permits for the new migrant workers,” he said while adding that the Ministry is evaluating the situation.

The MoFA is getting updates from the Nepali missions in ten West Asian locations — Tel Aviv, Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Kuwait City, Muscat, Cairo and Jeddah, along with the Consulate General in Dubai.

They are regularly updating the Foreign Ministry with 'situation analysis reports'.

Likewise, Spokesperson of the MoFA, Lok Bahadur Poudel Kshetri, said that the Emergency Control Room is functioning round the clock. The room becomes operational during the day, while at night, designated officials manage the communication on the move through cell phones and other communication devices.

Nepalis in West Asia and their families in Nepal can register their complaint or suggestions even during night.

The MoFA also informed that 11 Nepali citizens in Nepal are safe. One Nepali, Amrit Jha is in custody on a smuggling case. A persecutor is meeting him on Saturday to get the updates.

Similarly, the government has formed an organising committee to organise the Wellness Day on April 15. On Nepal’s proposal, the United Nations has decided to celebrate April 15 every year as Wellness Day. The government has also directed Nepali mission abroad to celebrate the day grandly.

A Wellness Walk will be organised on April 18, where the foreign missions in Kathmandu will participate.

Earlier on Thursday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal left for Port Louis, Mauritius, to address the 9^th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2026 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar.

FM Khanal is scheduled to hold meetings with his Indian, Mauritian, and Bangladeshi counterparts on the margins of the Conference, said Kshetri.

The Conference, which began on Friday, will run till Sunday, and is being organised by the India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius.

During the Conference, FM Khanal will deliver Nepal's national statement articulating Nepal's perspectives on Indian Ocean governance, the mountain-ocean ecological nexus, and the importance of maritime connectivity for economic development, the MoFA said in a statement.

He is scheduled to return to Nepal on Monday, April 13.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 April 2026.      

Over 51,000 Nepalis in West Asia register in DoCS portal

Kathmandu, Mar. 8

About 51,405 Nepali nationals residing in West Asia have registered their details in the online registration system launched by the Department of Consular Services (DoCS) by Saturday evening.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that the registered details will be reviewed on a priority basis, and necessary procedures will be initiated for appropriate action as required.

Following the beginning of the war between Israel-USA and Iran, the entire region in West Asia has been affected as the latter targeted the US bases in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and several others. These are the countries where a large number of Nepalis are working.

About 1.72 million Nepali nationals have reached the 13 countries in the region including Cyprus and Egypt in Europe and Africa through the formal channel and by obtaining work permit from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE). It is also estimated that a significant number of Nepalis have reached those countries and are working illegally. 

However, a small number of Nepali citizens working in West Asia have expressed their desire to return home.

Meanwhile, 50 transit passengers who were denied food and accommodation by Kuwait Air have been provided with meals and lodging by the Embassy of Nepal in Kuwait City in coordination with the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and the Nepali community.

"While the airspace over Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq had been closed for flights, it has been reported that Doha International Airport has partially reopened from Saturday to manage passengers in transit," read a statement from the MoFA. Likewise, Dubai International Airport, which had remained open until Friday, has been closed until further notice. As some airspace has reopened, interested passengers may travel through other airports in the United Arab Emirates, as well as through Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The mortal remains of Nepali citizen Diwas Shrestha, who was killed after being hit by a shrapnel in Abu Dhabi on March 1, arrived in Nepal on Saturday. The body is handed over to the father and family members of the deceased.

President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid tribute to late Shrestha and expressed deep condolences to his relatives.

He praised the honesty, diligence and commitment of Nepali citizens, and expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would grow even stronger in the coming days.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation with President Al Nahyan on Saturday and expressed gratitude for prioritising the safety of all citizens, including Nepali nationals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a special appeal to all Nepali citizens to remain calm, vigilant and cautious during this difficult period, and to refrain from recording or sharing photographs, videos or audio materials that may violate the law.

In case of any difficulties, Nepalis in West Asia can immediately inform the MoFA through the telephone numbers or email of the Emergency Action Room, or contact the Nepali diplomatic missions in the respective countries using the contact numbers or email addresses they have provided.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 March 2026.      

Uncertainty looms over fate of Nepali migrant workers in war-torn Middle East

Kathmandu, Mar. 7

The tension that began in West Asia (or Middle East) with Israel and the USA attacking Iran has entered the eighth day on Saturday. As the conflict has shown no sign of waning and no immediate solutions being offered by both the parties, concerns to the safety and security of more than 1.72 million Nepali migrant workers in 13 countries in the region have been troubling the stakeholders back home.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Nepalis in Iran, Israel, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Iraq and Cyprus are or likely to be affected by the ongoing war that has affected about half a dozen countries in West Asia. Cyprus is a European country while Egypt is in northern Africa.

The largest number of Nepalis are in the UAE with a presence of 478,144, followed by Saudi Arabia at 383,865, Qatar at 357,000, Kuwait at 175,000, and Iraq at 30,000. There are only six Nepali citizens in Iran and 500 in Egypt.

What is leaving the authorities at the MoFA, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and other concerned departments like the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), Foreign Employment Board (FEB), and Department of Consular Services (DoCS) perplexed is no established mechanism for rescue and repatriation of Nepalis from West Asia.

In the past, the country had sought support from India and a couple of international agencies in rescuing and repatriating Nepalis from the conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan, Bahrain and Lebanon.

One Nepali, Diwas Shrestha from Gorkha, was killed in an attack in a residential area in the UAE. As the situation is critical, the government is waiting for a favourable time even to repatriate his body. In another incident, two Nepalis were injured but they are already discharged from hospital following treatment.

Nepal has less than a dozen aircraft including the flag-carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation, Himalaya Airlines and Buddha Air. It would take more than a year even if all those were deployed for the rescue operation.

Rescue plan in offing

Spokesperson of the MoLESS Pitambar Ghimire said that the government doesn't have any plan yet to conduct rescue works and bring Nepalis back home.

"The government is finalising the rescue plan. Until then, through a dedicated online system, details of Nepalis and applications for any support are being collected," he said.

Immediate response has also been restricted by the closed airspace in various Gulf countries including Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE.

Ghimire said that the MoLESS has conducted virtual meetings with the labour attaches deployed at the Nepali mission in West Asia.

The MoFA and MoLESS are coordinating with eight Nepali embassies and two consular offices in the region. The missions are issuing various notices, requests and travel advisories for Nepalis in those countries as well as abroad.

The Ministry had also issued an advisory to remain indoors as far as possible, stay alert and take necessary precautions as suggested by the governments of the respective countries. It has also suggested to avoid unnecessary travel without prior approval from the relevant authorities, stay in regular contact with their families and Nepali missions.

The government has formed an Emergency Response Team (ERT) which is led by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and includes representatives from the ministries of Home Affairs; Finance; Law; Tourism and Civil Aviation; Education; and Labour and Employment, and DoFE, DOCS, Department of Immigration and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Likewise, the Emergency Control Room (ECR) established at the MoFA has become fully operational.

It is providing round the clock hotline service, email response, necessary coordination and preparation of situational reports. The ECR can be reached via telephone numbers 9744441227, 9744441228, 9744441229 (including WhatsApp, Viber, and Botim) and email emergency@mofa.gov.np.

However, the DoFE is clueless about the entire process. A senior officer of the department said that they are just an executing agency and function under the directives of Foreign or Labour Ministry.

Similarly, President of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, Bhuwan Singh Gurung, the employers don't take the responsibility for the rescue and repatriation.

He also said that the Nepalis in critical situation and their families contact the manpower agencies seeking help, following which the latter reach out to the Nepali missions abroad and seek help from the DoFE, MoFA, MoLESS and FEB.

But Gurung said that Nepal has an experience of rescuing its citizens from various regions including West Asia, Libya and Afghanistan which can be useful in formulating a new mechanism as well as plan to support Nepalis in the conflict-hit areas.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani to discuss the safety and welfare of Nepali citizens residing in Qatar.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma also held a telephone conversation with his Bahraini counterpart Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and discussed the security situation of the region, the security strategies adopted by the Government of Bahrain, and the safety of Nepalis, among other things.

 

Labour permits suspended

The DoFE has suspended the labour permits for the West Asian nations since March 1.

"All concerned parties are hereby informed that the issuance of labour permits for employment in the aforementioned countries by this Department and its subordinate agencies has been suspended until the publication of a subsequent notice," read a notice issued by the Department's Foreign Labour Permit Branch in Tahachal, Kathmandu.

A ministerial-level decision of the MoLESS has decided to suspend individual and institutional labour permits for foreign employment in the West Asian countries—specifically Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel—until further notice.

However, the conflict has impacted Nepalis who have already obtained the labour permit to go to these countries for employment and those who are in the process to obtain the permit.

It also has a repercussion on the business of the manpower agencies. In the last Fiscal Year 2081/82, Nepalis obtained work permit to work in about 151 countries while about 959 manpower agencies sent Nepali migrant workers abroad. With some exceptions like Israel and South Korea where workers are sent through the government-to-government contract and some individual work permits, most of the workers go abroad through the agencies.

According to the statistics of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), in the month of 2082 Magh (mid-January to mid-February), 15,137 Nepalis obtained labour permit to work in the UAE, 11,592 for Saudi Arabia, 11,580 for Qatar, 5,443 for Kuwait, 148 for Cyprus, and 813 for Bahrain. The numbers are including the re-entry permit.

Two months earlier in Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December), 14,191 obtained work permits for Saudi Arabia, 11,943 for Qatar, 7,707 for the UAE, 3,395 for Kuwait, 1,050 for Oman and 771 for Bahrain.

 

Feeling is intense for family

Nepalis in the UAE and Israel have said that they are safe and less worried. "We also got a notice from the embassy to update our details to the portal if we need to be rescued. It's good that the government has contacted us," said Tikaram Dhakal, who works as a manager in a multinational company in Dubai.

The Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi has notified Nepalis in the UAE and requested them to fill their personal details in the portal created by the DoCS.

Likewise, talking to The Rising Nepal, six Nepalis in Israel and Saudi Arabia said that although there is a feeling of risk, they don't feel the need to be repatriated.

However, their relatives in Nepal are more affected psychologically by the conflict and are worried about the safety of their relatives. Ajay Sunar, a taxi-driver in Kathmandu, is one among them. His wife is working in Kuwait. Although she has assured the family about her safety there, the family members in Nepal are less assured.

A senior journalist's son is working in a hotel operated by an international-chain in Dubai. He also expressed his worries that being at risk away from home is more worrisome.

However, a Nepali youth in Israel said that the information and security system there is at an advanced level and people are informed to move to safe bunkers before any bomb-strike. "I am never worried about my safety here, but my family in Nepal is."

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 March 2026.      

PM Karki talks to UAE President

Kathmandu, Mar. 7

Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Saturday afternoon.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Karki condemned the attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the UAE’s sovereign territory and expressed Nepal’s solidarity with the UAE in these challenging times. She urged all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, avoid escalating tensions, and ensure the safety of civilians, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Stating that war can never be an alternative to peace, PM Karki emphasised that lasting peace can only be achieved through diplomacy and dialogue. She also expressed Nepal’s hope that the situation would return to normal as soon as possible.

She expressed gratitude to the UAE government for ensuring public safety and for taking equal care of all residents, including Nepali citizens working and living there, as well as visitors and those in transit. She also expressed deep sorrow upon learning of the tragic loss of a Nepali citizen’s life on duty at Zayed International Airport on March 1.

Additionally, she conveyed concern upon hearing of two Nepali citizens being injured in the ICAD area of Abu Dhabi on March 5.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Karki also highly praised the UAE President's leadership in continuously contributing to regional and global diplomatic efforts to promote peace and development.

She expressed confidence that, in the coming years, economic cooperation and the relationship between the peoples of the two countries would continue to strengthen, expanding and solidifying their bilateral ties.

Likewise, Prime Minister Karki conveyed heartfelt wishes for peace, justice, and harmony on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

“During the telephone conversation, she mentioned that while Nepal is not directly involved in the current tensions, it is bearing the consequences. She also highlighted the immediate concerns about the safety of Nepali citizens, as well as long-term economic pressures such as rising fuel prices, a contraction in investment flows, and increasing inflation,” read the statement.

Prime Minister Karki expressed confidence that transit passengers would gradually be able to depart safely to Nepal or third countries once the situation becomes more manageable.

The President of the UAE Al Nahyan thanked Prime Minister Karki on behalf of the UAE for Nepal’s solidarity and sympathy, as demonstrated by its response as a true friend in these difficult circumstances. He expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of a Nepali citizen.

According to the PMO, he expressed satisfaction with the long-standing cordial and friendly relations between Nepal and the UAE, and commended the hardworking nature and good conduct of Nepali people.

President Al Nahyan mentioned that both countries' ambassadors are making every effort to ensure the safety and welfare of Nepali citizens. He assured that he is ready to take all necessary steps to guarantee the security of Nepali citizens.

He also mentioned that he was aware that some Nepalis wish to return to Nepal and assured that once the situation eases, all possible assistance will be provided to facilitate their return.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 March 2026.      

Nepali missions coordinate rescue amid war in West Asia

Kathmandu, Mar. 6

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that all Nepali missions located in the West Asia region are maintaining the closest possible contact and coordination with the government agencies of the respective countries and the Nepali community, and are collecting information regarding the situation of Nepali citizens there.

Stating that the government is fully aware of the recent developments occurring in West Asia, the MoFA said in a statement that continuous efforts are being made for the rescue, assistance, and facilitation of Nepali citizens who have encountered difficulties in those countries.

Nepalis in Israel, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and other countries in the region have been affected by the war that broke out between Israel and the USA and Iran.

According to the MoFA, Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma held a telephone conversation with his Bahraini counterpart, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on Thursday evening.

During the call, they discussed the overall security situation of the region, the security strategies adopted by the Government of Bahrain, and the safety of Nepalis, among other matters. FM Sharma expressed his thanks to the Government of Bahrain for placing a high priority on the safety and welfare of Nepalis.

Likewise, the Ministry organised a virtual meeting with the 10 missions in the region to obtain updates from the missions regarding the safety and rescue of Nepali nationals in their respective jurisdiction. Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai directed all heads of missions to work in a more coordinated and effective manner.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Control Room established at the MoFA has become fully operational and has begun to provide round-the-clock hotline service, email response, necessary coordination and preparation of situational reports. The ECR can be reached via telephone numbers 9744441227, 9744441228, 9744441229 (including WhatsApp, Viber, and Botim) and email emergency@mofa.gov.np.

Similarly, by Thursday evening, 33,910 Nepali citizens in West Asia have registered their information on the online registration system launched by the Department of Consular Services (DoCS). The registered details are being studied with priority by the DoCS and the relevant Nepali missions.

The Ministry said that the process for necessary action is being moved forward.

Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, two Nepalis were slightly injured by shrapnel in the ICAD area of Abu Dhabi. They have returned from the hospital following general treatment.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki had called Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to discuss the safety and welfare of Nepali citizens residing in Qatar. The war has affected more than 1.72 million Nepalis in various countries in West Asia. However, very few have expressed their desire to return home.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 March 2026.      

West Asia conflict can add challenge to nation economy

Kathmandu, Mar. 3

Dr. Ram Sharan Kharel, Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank, said that the tensions in West Asia can have impacts on the price of goods and services.

"The price hike in the petroleum products will immediately impact the production and transportation cost which will result in growing price of the goods," he said speaking at an interaction on 'The West Asian Conflict's impact on Nepal’s economy and supply system’ organsied by Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ).

However, he maintained that since the inflation rate is around 2 per cent and the central bank has estimated to contain it below 5 per cent, the inflation risk is low.

According to Dr. Kharel, the country has enough foreign exchange reserves sufficient to cover the import of goods and services for 18 months. "But remittance can be impacted if the situation aggravates and gets prolonged. This will force Nepali migrant workers to return to their homes," he said.

Out of the 17 countries in the Middle East, Nepal receives remittances from 15. Of these, four countries account for 35 per cent of the total remittance inflow. If the conflict is not resolved in the short term, nearly 41 per cent of remittances could be affected, informed Dr. Kharel.

But he said that this can be an opportunity for Nepal. "Nepali industries and entrepreneurs are facing the shortage of workers. They can get workers for the short term. Meanwhile, the banking industry has enough liquidity which can be mobilised to the existing and new entrepreneurs in order to expand the business," he said.

This will create employment or self-employment for the youth.

Dr. Kharel said that the West Asian conflict had added yet another challenge to Nepal’s economy. “Just as the economy was beginning to return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, floods and landslides, and now the Iran–Israel conflict is once again likely to affect it,” he said.

There was excessive liquidity in the banking system, interest rates of banks and financial institutions had declined, and it was expected that liquidity management would improve once a new government was formed. However, the Middle East conflict has created renewed uncertainty, said Dr. Kharel.

Speaking on the occasion, Shiva Prasad Ghimire, Chair of the Transport Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and a petroleum entrepreneur, said that an immediate shortage of petroleum products was unlikely.

He said that although the government and entrepreneurs must be concerned to the possible disruptions in the supply of petroleum products as well as essential commodities, consumers need not be worried.

“Nepal has experienced shortages of petroleum products for various reasons at different times. Therefore, whenever conflicts arise in different countries, a certain level of fear regarding shortages spreads in Nepal as well,” Ghimire said.

He stated that considering the overall situation, an immediate shortage of petroleum products does not appear likely.

Ghimire argued that although the current conflict could reduce production and create disruptions in the supply chain, its effects would not reach Nepal immediately. He also noted that only a few days ago, fears of a gas shortage had spread, leading the public to worry about a possible overall fuel crisis.

Likewise, trade expert Ravi Shankar Sainju said that Nepal should learn lessons from the escalating conflict in the Middle East and West Asia.

"The key issue is how the ongoing conflict in West Asian countries will affect Nepal’s economy and what lessons we should draw from it. In reality, we must learn how events in other countries can influence our economy and how to adopt precautionary measures,” he said.

He suggested to move forward by understanding the impact of external events on Nepal's internal economy.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 March 2026.      

Govt. forms Emergency Response Team to tackle issues of Nepalis in Middle East

Kathmandu, Mar. 3

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) updated on Tuesday that Nepalis working or residing in West Asia are safe.

"Nepalis currently living in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon and Bahrain remain safe as of now," Ram Kaji Khadka, Joint Secretary and Head of the Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division at the MoFA, said at a press conference.

He said that the Nepali missions in the Gulf countries have been continuously updating the situation as well as the status of Nepali nationals in their respective jurisdictions.

Nepali missions in ten West Asian locations — Tel Aviv, Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Kuwait City, Muscat, Cairo and Jeddah, along with the Consulate General in Dubai — have been instructed to send regular 'situation analysis reports', on the basis of which the Ministry is coordinating its response.

Likewise, the governments in those countries are also giving high priority to the safety of foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, following ministerial-level decision, an Emergency Response Team has been formed under the coordination of the Foreign Secretary including representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Law, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Education, Labour, Employment and Social Security, as well as the Department of Foreign Employment, the Department of Immigration, the Department of Consular Services and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

One Nepali citizen, Diwas Shrestha from Gorkha, was killed in an attack in a residential area in the UAE. Khadka said that the process of repatriating his body will be initiated once the situation becomes favourable.

More than 100 Nepalis in transit in Dubai are being accommodated in hotels. The Consulate General of Nepal there is coordinating with the concerned agencies to support them.

Likewise, 150 Nepalis working in Kurdistan have been moved to safer locations. About 90 Nepalis who travelled via Kuwait in transit are staying in hotels.

The MoFA updated that according to the report from the Embassy of Nepal in Israel, all Nepalis there remain safe and are in regular contact with the embassy. There have been no new attacks recently.

"Although reports indicate that 11 people have died and 58 have been injured in areas near Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beth Shemesh, no Nepalis have been affected," said Khadka.

Likewise, Nepalis in Qatar are safe. But as Qatar’s airspace remains closed, Nepalis in transit have been accommodated in hotels by the respective airlines.

The Consulate General of Nepal in Jeddah reported that 36 Nepali pilgrims who had travelled for Umrah have had their flights cancelled. The MoFA is coordinating with the airlines and travel agencies to arrange alternative means for their return to Nepal.

Similarly, the Nepali Missions in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia, Muscat of Oman, and Cairo of Egypt also updated that Nepalis are safe there as well as in Jordan and Lebanon.

Director General of the Department of Consular Services (DoCS) Drupada Sapkota has prepared an online registration platform to collect details for possible rescue or emergency assistance to Nepali citizens. She clarified that the Ministry will play a coordinating role in facilitating repatriation and other necessary support if required.

"We are coordinating with the Department of Passports to share information regarding the Nepalis abroad," she said. "We aim to collect the whereabouts of Nepali citizens."

The portal will also collect the contact numbers of the family members or relatives of Nepalis living abroad which will help to establish immediate contact with them in case of emergencies.

According to Sapkota, the DoCS will closely work with the Emergency Response Team to effectively handle the support or rescue work, if needed. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 March 2026.      

Government issues advisory for Nepalis visiting Middle East

Airlines suspend flight operations to Middle East cities

 

Kathmandu, Feb. 28

As the war broke between America-Israel and Iran on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has issued an advisory asking Nepali citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran and Israel without prior authorisation from the relevant authorities of Israel and Iran.

"The government of Nepal is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East. Nepali nationals planning to travel to Israel or Iran are strongly advised to defer their travel plans until the situation in both countries stabilizes," said the Ministry in the statement.  

Likewise, Nepali nationals residing and working in other Middle East countries are advised to constantly monitor developments and follow precautionary measures as suggested by the competent authorities of the respective countries.

According to the MoFA, Nepalis there should strictly adhere to the security advisories and instructions issued by the competent authorities of Israel and Iran, and remain indoors as much as possible, stay vigilant, exercise due caution, and maintain regular contact with the Nepali community in your respective locations.

It also suggested to maintain regular communication with the MoFA in Kathmandu, the Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv, Israel and the Embassy of Nepal in Doha, Aatar. The MoFA can be contacted at ​+977-9862678437 or waa@mofa.gov.np, Embassy at Tel Aviv at +972-545582077, telaviv@nepalembassyil.com, and Embassy in Doha at ​+974- 6621 4419, ​eondoha@mofa.gov.np.

About 5,500 Nepalis are currently studying and working in Israel while around 15 Nepalis are in Iran, according to the MoFA.

As the USA and Israel launched missile attack at several locations in Iran, the latter retaliated with missiles targeting Israel and US bases in various Gulf countries.

Following these developments, several aviation companies have suspended their flight operations in those countries. Considering the current situation of airspace restrictions, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said it is in close coordination with international airlines operators serving at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Since this situation has developed outside Nepali airspace, CAAN has to rely on the decisions of the relevant country and the relevant airline operators, said Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer of the Authority.

Likewise, the TIA has published a passenger advisory with the contact numbers of international airlines conducting flight operations to and from Kathmandu and suggested the travellers to get the status update before they leave their home for abroad travel. The airlines include Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airlines, Kuwait Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines.

Himalaya Airlines cancelled its flights to Dubai, Dammam and Doha due to ongoing situation in the Middle East airspace.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar announced temporary suspension of air traffic in Qatari airspace which resulted in cancellation of flights of Qatar Airways from Doha, as the airlines informed. Similarly, Kuwait also closed its airspace citing the regional security developments.

Flight operations are also restricted at the airports in Sarjah and Abu Dhabi. According to the TIA, flights to those all airports will remain suspended until further notice.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 March 2026.     

India agrees to rescue Nepalis stranded in Iran

Kathmandu, June 21

The Government of India has agreed to rescue Nepali citizens facing difficulties in Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran war.

At the request of the Government of Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Iran will carry out the rescue operation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba said.

According to a statement issued by her secretariat, she had requested the Indian government to help in evacuating 16 Nepali citizens currently residing in Iran during the rescue of their own nationals.

“A small number of our Nepali citizens are also present in Iran. I have requested, through the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Navin Srivastava, that the Indian Government kindly include the Nepali nationals as well when they evacuate their citizens. We are awaiting their assistance,” she said.

In view of the Israel-Iran conflict that has been ongoing for the past several days, Minister Dr. Rana made the appeal to the Indian Government for the rescue of Nepalis in Iran. For this purpose, she also directed Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar Sharma, to make the necessary coordination, read the statement.

Following Nepal’s request, the Indian Embassy in Iran has agreed to assist. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Nepalis in Iran and instructed them to approach the Indian Embassy, which has also issued a corresponding notice.

MoFA Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri has been in contact and coordination with the Nepalis there and with Rakhi Mayuri, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Indian Embassy in Iran.

Similarly, the Indian Embassy has called upon both Nepali and Sri Lankan citizens in Iran to establish contact. Out of the 16 Nepalis, five are currently in Iranian prisons due to immigration-related offences. The Ministry has also continued its efforts to secure their release and repatriation.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 June 2025. 

Govt facilitating for safe return of Nepalis from Israel, Iran

 Kathmandu, June 20

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stated that the government is making every possible effort to ensure the safety and rescue of Nepali citizens residing in Israel and Iran, in light of the evolving situation in these countries.

The government is prepared to repatriate those who wish to return to Nepal, she said according to a statement issued by her secretariat on Friday.

Speaking at a joint meeting held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) with the Ministries of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Ministry of Home Affairs, FM Dr. Rana discussed the current situation arising from the ongoing war between Israel and Iran and preparations related to it.

She informed that, under the coordination of the MoFA, the Nepali Embassy in Israel is actively working, and it has opened a registration process for Nepalis wishing to return home. The government is preparing the necessary arrangements for their rescue if they choose to return.

“If any Nepali, who is currently in Israel under the Government-to-Government programme, wants to return home or move to a safer location, it is also Israel’s responsibility to facilitate this. The Israeli government has already been requested to assist in transferring Nepalis to other countries via border areas, if necessary," said Dr. Rana.

She also updated that the government remains prepared to rescue those who wish to return.

Speaking at the meeting, Labour Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari said that his ministry is in continuous contact with the Nepalis there and emphasised that the government must be ready to carry out rescue operations for those wishing to return home.

He also informed that labour permits for those who were in the final stage of preparation to travel to Israel have been temporarily suspended.

On June 13, the day the war between Israel and Iran broke, the MoFA had issued a statement urging both sides to exercise maximum restraint and resolve their issues through dialogue, while also requesting Nepalis in those countries to remain in contact with the respective Nepali embassies.

Subsequently, on June 15, a travel advisory was issued, urging Nepalis to exercise maximum caution from a security perspective. The MoFA issued a second travel advisory on Wednesday, once again urging Nepali citizens in Israel and Iran to exercise maximum caution and requesting people not to travel to Israel or any Middle Eastern countries from Nepal at this time.

In view of the closure of air routes, the Ministry has directed all Nepali missions in the Gulf to facilitate the process of obtaining online visas for Nepalis wishing to move to safer places or neighbouring countries.

Likewise, the ministry has opened an online portal to collect the details of Nepali citizens, and so far, over 600 individuals have registered on the portal, with registrations still ongoing, read the statement.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Dr. Rana met with Shmulik Arie Bass, the Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, and requested the Israeli government to make proper arrangements for the safety of Nepali citizens.

Similarly, the Nepali Embassy in Israel and the Embassy in Qatar (which oversees Iran) have been instructed to maintain close contact with the relevant authorities, organisations, and Nepali communities in these countries, and to provide real-time reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Currently, there are 5,500 to 7,000 Nepalis in Israel, mostly in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. In Iran, there are 18 Nepalis.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 June 2025. 

Nepal condemns attacks on UNIFIL, NA personnel safe in Lebanon

Kathmandu, Oct. 15

Nepal has condemned the recent attacks on the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers.

Following a joint statement by the 34 UNIFIL-contributing countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal said in its message in X (known as Twitter earlier) on Tuesday that such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated.

The joint statement by the UNIFIL-contributing countries has strongly condemned the attacks on peacekeepers and urged the parties of the conflict to guarantee their safety and security.

"We urge the parties of the conflict to respect UNIFIL's presence, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel at all times so that they can continue to implement its mandate and continue their work of meditation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region," read the statement.

The contributing countries also said they consider UNIFIL's role as particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region

Reiterating their commitment to multilateral cooperation with the UN at its core, the UNIFIL-contributing countries have called for respect for the international law, in particular the Charter of the UN as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

Co-signatories of this letter are Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, the United Kingdom and Tanzania.

Meanwhile, RSS adds:  The Nepali Army (NA) has confirmed that all its personnel deployed in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon are safe.    
NA spokesperson Gaurav Kumar KC stated that the army is in regular contact with its security forces in Lebanon, and all members are unharmed.    
However, sporadic incidents in the region have disrupted the daily operations of the mission, KC told the RSS.    
He said the NA will follow directives from the UN and mission headquarters concerning the ongoing situation in Lebanon. Currently, there are 877 NA personnel serving as peacekeepers in UNIFIL.    

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 October 2024. 

Foreign Minister Rana collects info about Nepali people’s situation in Lebanon, Israel, Iran

Kathmandu, Oct. 6

Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba has instructed the Nepali embassies in Isreal, Egypt and Pakistan to keep 'updated' with information about the situation of Nepalis in Israel, Lebanon and Iran.

She held a virtual meeting with Nepali ambassadors in those countries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and took information about the latest situation in Israel and Lebanon, the Ministry said in a statement.

 FM Dr. Deuba had given instructions to the diplomats to be in contact with the Nepalis in the war-affected countries and their families since there is growing concern in Nepal especially due to the situation developed in Lebanon recently about the situation of Nepali citizens.

"Try to get in touch with all the Nepalis who are there in any way. If anyone wants, help them return home immediately, coordinate for that and if there is a situation where Nepali citizens have to be rescued and brought back home, do the necessary homework for that," she instructed the embassies.

FM Rana also instructed the embassies of the respective countries to appoint contact persons and establish a help desk if needed to provide necessary assistance and coordination to the Nepalis who are in trouble.

Sushil Lamsal, Nepali Ambassador to Egypt, informed the latest situation in Lebanon and said that Nepalis who are there did not have any problem as of Sunday.

He said that it is estimated that there are currently around 1,200 Nepalis and that most of them are working in households. So far, ​​only three people have come in contact with the Embassy following the publication of a notice by it. "All of them have informed that they are safe in Beirut. Currently, no Nepali has reported that they have a problem, but their relatives in Nepal are more worried," said Lamsal.

Similarly, Acting Ambassador to Israel, Kumar Shrestha, said that the situation in Israel is normal and about 4,500 Nepalis are safe.

Likewise, Tapas Adhikari, Ambassador to Pakistan, informed about the latest situation in Iran.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 October 2024. 

One more Nepali dies in Russia-Ukraine war

Kathmandu, Dec. 20

Kundan Singh Nagal, a Nepali citizen working in the Russian Army, has died in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement on Wednesday that it received information about the tragic death of Nagal. With this, the number Nepalis deceased in the war has reached six.

The MoFA has urged Russia through its Ambassador in Nepal to send the bodies of the Nepali citizens who died after enlisting in the Russian army to Nepal as soon as possible and to provide compensation to the families of the victims including the injured.

Similarly, it has reiterated its request to the Russian government that Nepali citizens should not be recruited in the Russian Army and that the enlisted Nepali citizens should be immediately repatriated to Nepal.

"We have firmly asked the Russian government to provide the number of Nepali citizens who have joined the Russian Army, the number of injured Nepalis and their condition at the earliest," read the statement.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has requested the Ukrainian government through diplomatic channels to release the Nepalis detained there and send them back to Nepal as soon as possible. Bibek Khatri of Rajapur in Bardiya, Siddartha Dhakal of Mandan Deupur in Kavrepalanchwok, Bikas Rai of Letang in Morang and Pratik Pun of Runtigadhi in Rolpa are in captivity in Ukraine.

Stating that serious attention of the Government of Nepal has been drawn to the detainment of Nepalis in Ukraine, the MoFA informed that diplomatic initiatives are being taken by other means including the International Committee of the Red Cross for their release and return to Nepal.

"Ordinary citizens, except for those involved in government work, scholarships of the Russian government and those involved in professional business, can travel to Russia only with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Consular Service Department under the MoFA," said the Ministry.

It also appealed to everyone to travel to Russia only with an NOC issued by the Nepali Embassies and Consulates General in the respective countries even if they travel through Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

Earlier, the MoFA had warned Nepali citizens not to go to security-related work in war-torn countries.

Under the traditionally existing agreement, Nepali citizens are not allowed to join foreign armies other than the national armies of some friendly countries. The Ministry reiterated that there is no policy of the Government of Nepal to grant permission to its citizens to join the foreign armies.

 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 December 2023. 

FM Saud talks to Israel counterpart

Asks him to facilitate repatriation of bodies of deceased, safety of other Nepalis

Kathmandu, Oct. 10

The government on Tuesday urged Israel for coordination and facilitation in early repatriation of mortal remains of deceased Nepalis, safety, security and relocation of Nepali nationals to safer areas, and repatriation of those who wish to return home.

Ten Nepali students pursuing higher studies in Israel have been killed in the attacks of Palestine rebel group Hamas. They had reached there under 'learn and earn' programme.

Foreign Affairs Minister, NP Saud, talked to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen to seek support on bringing back the dead bodies, assisting in the treatment and care of the four Nepali nationals who were injured in the attack, and finding the whereabouts of a Nepali citizen who has gone out of contact after the attack.

Stating that the country is shocked by the death of 10 Nepali citizens in the attack of the rebel Hamas group, FM Saud urged Israeli FM Cohen, "We need to return the bodies of the dead to the country as soon as possible. Even a little delay will add more pain to the family members. Therefore, I request for the necessary coordination and facilitation for the return of the dead bodies to Nepal. The Nepali embassy will coordinate with the government of Israel."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal, four Nepalis are being treated in Israeli hospitals. FM Saud requested Israel to support them in their proper health treatment and care. He also asked Minister Cohen to help the Nepali citizens who have been relocated to a safe place by the Israeli army for their basic needs including food.

"So far, we have received information that other Nepalis are safe. However, information has been received that many of them are staying in bunkers," he said during the conversation. "They are constantly calling their friends and family for basic needs like food and water. We hope for proper support from the Israeli government in this matter as well.”

Stating that Nepali Embassy in Israel is coordinating with the authorities in Kathmandu and Tel Aviv, FM Saud sought FM Cohen's support in relocating Nepalis living in bunkers to other safer places.

The MoFA is collecting the details of Nepali citizens in Israel and after the details are collected, it will request for the necessary assistance from the Israeli government for facilitation.

"We are collecting details of our citizens who want to return home. After the complete details are collected, the Nepal government will request for necessary support from the Israeli government for facilitation," FM Saud said.

According to the MoFA, during the conversation, Minister Saud expressed his sympathy for the loss of life and property caused by the attack and said that the Government of Nepal stood in solidarity with the government of Israel in this difficult time.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen expressed his condolences for the loss of life of 10 Nepalis in the attack and wished for the recovery of the injured Nepali citizens.

He thanked the Government of Nepal for expression of solidarity and assured Israel government's full support in early repatriation of the mortal remains and return of Nepalis desiring to return home.

 

FM advises not to visit Israel

The government has urged all concerned not to visit Israel without obtaining a high-level approval from the government.

Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee (IRTC) of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister, NP Saud, has urged all concerned not to visit Israel for any personal or political reasons except on a political level.

The IRTC had summoned FM Saud to solicit the updates about the situation of Nepalis in Israel in the wake of the recent attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

He made this request while informing the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the Parliament about the attack on Israel and the situation of the Nepalis there.

Minister Saud informed that Israel's situation is sensitive after the attack by Hamas group and asked not to politicize the current situation.

The situation is sensitive. Therefore, apart from an official decision at the political level, it is requested not to visit Israel on a personal or party basis," he said. "Let's not politicize this situation."

FM Saud also urged the lawmakers not to politicize the current critical situation. "This is a very sensitive situation. I urge all not to politicize the issue and not to make a visit to Israel," he said.

"The Cabinet has recommended that the government should charter an aircraft to rescue and bring back Nepalis from Israel. Meanwhile, international flights are not yet suspended in Israel so we can also use those services," he informed the House Committee.

The government is also looking for options to bring out Nepalis to the nearest transit from Israel.

 

Need to empower embassies

Recent attack of Palestine rebel group Hamas on Isreal and killing of 10 Nepali nationals has again exposed the lack of preparedness and poor communication system of Nepali missions in sensitive locations.

The Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv of Israel has only three personnel including the Ambassador. There are about 4,500 Nepalis in Israel and the embassy is also accredited to Cyprus. Nepal doesn't have direct flight service to Israel and if it wants to conduct chartered flights, we have to obtain flight permissions from all the countries en route, said FM Saud.

Speaking at the meeting of the IRTC, he said that the government is planning to add one local staff to support in the process of rescuing Nepali citizens.

Committee Chair, Raj Kishor Yadav, asked the government to keep updated details of Nepalis in foreign countries.

Lawmakers said that the government should be prepared to handle and manage the crisis like the one in Israel as it can happen in other countries in the Middle East and elsewhere.

"Crisis can emerge in Lebanon and other countries in that region. Government should create a policy and strategy for such steps," said Sunita Baral, a lawmaker, while adding that it is unfortunate that Mission of Nepal has not been prepared to manage such crisis.

Another lawmaker, Damodar Poudel, criticised the government for poor communication and management system in Nepali embassies including the one in Tel Aviv.

"Are we prepared to rescue all our citizens if they wished to come back? We should be ready to send more support and human resource to manage the crisis faced by our citizens as the situation could be worsened," said lawmaker Dhawal Shumsher Rana.

Likewise, lawmaker Shishir Khanal, suggested deploying more skilled ambassadors in sensitive areas who can handle the situation in calm and composed manner.

Another lawmaker Bhim Acharya said that the government should learn from this and past lacking and challenges in the management of crisis like in Israel and immediately devise ways to enhance the capacity of Nepali diplomats and missions abroad.

"Nepal should also issue travel advisory while sending its citizens to critical and unsafe destinations," he said.

Similarly, lawmaker Barsha Man Pun suggested requesting for help from the countries neighbouring Israel. "Government and MoFA must be proactive in disseminating authentic information during the crisis. Otherwise, rumours would spread which will do more harm," he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 11 October 2023. 

Nepalis in contact with embassy in Berlin are safe

Kathmandu, Feb. 26

Embassy of Nepal in Berlin, Germany has said that all Nepalis who came into contact with the mission in the wake of the recent crisis in Ukraine are safe so far.

In a statement issued on Friday, it said that the efforts to obtain more information about the status of Nepali people in various cities in Ukraine are ongoing and 193 people have contacted the embassy.

“We received the information that Slovakia, Poland and Hungary – countries bordering with Ukraine – have opened their borders to allow foreign citizens in the war-affected country to move into their land,” said the embassy.

It has urged all Nepalis in Ukraine to reach Slovakia, Poland and Hungary to return to Nepal safely. Nepal had issued a travel advisory on making travel to Ukraine on Thursday.

The embassy has also pledged its support to Nepali citizens who might face constraints in their travel due to their travel documents or identity cards. “If there are any problems regarding passport or travel documents and the latter is needed instantly, you can send a photocopy of the passport and digital photograph to get the document,” read the statement.

The documents and photograph can be sent to eonberlin@mofa.gov.np. In case of any problem, Shahara Chaulagain, Third Secretary at the Embassy of Nepal in Berlin could be reached.

Likewise, representatives of the Non-Resident Nepali Association – Jaya Prasad Siwakoti in Slovakia, Dr. Bodhraj Subedi and Jiban Kumar Kshetri in Poland, and Surendra Shrestha in Hungary – could be contacted in case of any problem after entering into those countries. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 February 2022.