Nepali-Russian Foreign Minister’s Talks in Limbo Amid Political Shifts in Nepal

The telephone conversation between the Foreign Ministers of Nepal and Russia, facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepali Embassy in Moscow, has become entangled amidst shifting power dynamics in Nepal.

The conversation, initially arranged through the efforts of the then Foreign Minister NP Saud, has left ministry officials in a quandary, unsure of the next steps.

A few days prior, a time had been scheduled for bilateral official telephone discussions covering topics such as the safe repatriation of Nepalis serving in the Russian army, compensation for the families of the deceased, and cessation of recruitment.

However, with the current changes in power, there is uncertainty regarding the possibility of these talks, particularly as the foreign minister position remains vacant.

The Nepali Foreign Minister was slated to have a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 7th (Thursday).

However, due to a shift in the power coalition, NP Saud, the incumbent Foreign Minister, has lost his position. Consequently, there is now uncertainty surrounding who will engage in discussions with the Russian Foreign Minister.

Recently, it was decided to convene talks between the foreign ministers of both countries regarding the recruitment of Nepalis into the Russian army. The rising number of casualties among Nepalis in the Russia-Ukraine conflict stems from the illicit recruitment practices employed by the Russian army, which the Russian government appears to condone.

Nepal has made repeated appeals to Russia to cease recruiting Nepalis into its military, and has requested comprehensive information on recruits, casualties, and incidents of injury. Additionally, Nepal has urged Russia to repatriate Nepali citizens currently serving in the Russian army.

Furthermore, the Nepali government has summoned the Russian ambassador in Nepal, urging an immediate halt to the recruitment of Nepalese citizens and requesting detailed information on the matter.

According to a high-ranking source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, internal discussions are underway regarding the course of action to take concerning the telephone conversation.

“There is some confusion due to the absence of a foreign minister. However, discussions are ongoing internally regarding this matter. If a foreign minister is appointed or if the prime minister delegates the responsibility to someone else, further discussions will ensue,” the source informed epardafas.com.

Currently, the likelihood of appointing a foreign minister is low. Following the decision of various political parties to form a coalition government, discussions are ongoing to finalize the distribution of ministries and positions.

Based on reliable information from within families, the number of Nepalis who have lost their lives while serving in the Russian army has now reached approximately one and a half dozen. So far, the Nepal government has only provided details of 12 deaths. Complete information regarding the injured and missing personnel is still unavailable. It is estimated that over 250 Nepalis have not been in contact with their families.