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The international community, particularly major powers such as India, China, the United States, and others, are closely watching the unfolding political developments in Nepal.

 Some countries have already welcomed the installation of the interim government tasked with holding elections, while others are yet to issue official statements. The sizeable presence of Kathmandu-based ambassadors at the swearing-in ceremony signaled support for the new government.

On Saturday (Sept 13,) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the newly appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki on assuming office as the head of Nepal’s interim government. “India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the people of Nepal,” Modi said in a statement.

Earlier, soon after Karki was sworn in, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement welcoming the formation of the interim government: “We are hopeful that this will help foster peace and stability. As a close neighbor, a fellow democracy, and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries.”

On Sept 9, amid street protests, India had urged all concerned parties to exercise restraint and resolve issues through peaceful dialogue. The Indian cabinet’s security committee also met to review the situation in Nepal, while bordering states tightened security along the India–Nepal frontier. During this period, India refrained from commenting directly on Nepal’s political crisis.

Speaking at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, Manipur, Modi remarked: “Nepal, in the lap of the Himalayas, is our close friend. We are connected through history and faith, and we are progressing together. On behalf of 1.4bn Indians, I congratulate Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister. I am confident she will pave the way for peace, stability, and prosperity in Nepal.”

He also noted: “One thing that has gone unnoticed in recent events is that over the past few days, Nepal’s youth have been seen cleaning the streets. I saw this on social media. This is a sign of Nepal’s resurgence. I extend my best wishes for Nepal’s brighter future.” These statements make clear that India is ready to support the new government in Nepal and continue normal bilateral relations, unlike its recent discontent with developments in Bangladesh.

China has congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government.

China’s Foreign Ministry says: “China and Nepal share a time-honored friendship. China, as always, respects the development path chosen independently by the people of Nepal. We stand ready to work with Nepal to promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and further advance bilateral relation.”

On Sept 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to the developments: “China and Nepal are traditional friends and close neighbors. China hopes that various sectors in Nepal will address domestic issues properly and restore social order and stability soon.” Beijing maintains a policy of working with whichever government comes to power—democratic or authoritarian. With its growing influence and economic clout, China is confident it can safeguard its interests regardless of political shifts. However, the dissolution of the KP Sharma Oli-led government is considered a setback for China, as the two countries had been advancing several joint initiatives, including under the Belt and Road framework.

However, Dalai Lama’s congratulations to Prime Minister Karki may have surprised the Beijing.  “As you know, the Nepalese and Tibetan peoples have historically enjoyed a close relationship,” he wrote. “I am very grateful to the government and the people of Nepal for providing facilities for the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees following their forced escape from Tibet after 1959.

The United States has said that it welcomes the restoration of calm and peaceful resolution following last week’s tragic events.

We commend President Ramchandra Paudel and youth leaders for their commitment to a democratic solution, even as we continue to mourn with Nepal over its losses, U.S Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press statement,

We recognize the Nepali Army and Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel for their vital role in restoring order and facilitating a peaceful transition of civilian government, the US said, we look forward to working with the interim government in the months ahead as they prepare for new elections.

On Sept 8, the US Embassy led a joint statement with other democratic nations expressing concern over the violence in Kathmandu and elsewhere.

 “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries during the demonstrations,” the statement read. “Our governments reaffirm our strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, and ensure these fundamental rights are protected.” Since Donald Trump’s re-election and the subsequent scaling back of US aid to countries like Nepal, Washington’s priorities in Nepal remain uncertain. With the State Department still in transition, the US government has said little about Nepal’s political crisis.

Soon after Karki took office, the Embassy of Japan expressed hope that Nepal would ensure a peaceful and democratic transition. “We welcome the appointment of Sushila Karki as interim prime minister of Nepal as an important step in this transition. The Japanese government will continue to support Nepal’s development and prosperity and to strengthen the long-standing cordial relations between our two countries,” its statement said.

Similarly, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the appointment: “As a longstanding partner of the country, we support the people of Nepal and all efforts to ensure democracy, stability, and reconciliation.”

The UK Embassy in Kathmandu also issued a statement, calling the appointment “an important step after last week’s tragic events, which included loss of life, injuries, and damage to property.” It added: “As Nepal’s old friend, we recognize the challenges ahead and reaffirm our commitment to supporting Nepali aspirations for accountability and inclusive governance.”

Overall, the United States, the UK, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other democratic partners appear ready to work with Nepal’s new government, though their priority will be safeguarding the 2015 Constitution, democracy, human rights, and a peaceful transfer of power through elections.

For Prime Minister Karki, gaining the support of major powers such as India, China, the US, and other democratic nations will be crucial to ensuring timely elections, attracting investment, and keeping Nepal’s fragile economy on track. Much, however, will depend on her choice of foreign minister and the diplomatic team she assembles.

Nepal's major political parties have strongly opposed Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s decision to dissolve the Federal Parliament, calling it unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Karki, who was appointed Prime Minister on September 12 with a mandate to hold general elections within six months, announced the dissolution of Parliament shortly after being sworn in. She also set March 5 as the date for the next election.

In a joint statement, eight major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party—expressed serious concern over the move, stating they "totally disagree" with the decision.

"We promulgated a new constitution on the foundation of people’s long struggle for democracy and sacrifice. Any move against the constitution is unacceptable to us," the statement reads.

The parties argue that the dissolution violates Article 76(2) of the Constitution and goes against previous verdicts of the Supreme Court of Nepal. They have demanded the immediate restoration of Parliament and called for a parliamentary session to address national issues, including those raised by recent protestors.

According to the statement, the parties believe that public demands must be resolved within the constitutional and parliamentary framework.

Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth largest parties in Parliament—Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party—have not issued any public statements regarding the dissolution.

Nepal has once again plunged into a deep constitutional crisis. What began as peaceful protests by Generation Z, initially demanding the lifting of the social media ban and an end to entrenched corruption, has snowballed into a political upheaval that led to the fall of the powerful Nepali Congress–CPN-UML coalition government, and dissolution of the Parliament, creating a legislative vacuum. Nepal had faced the similar crisis in 2012 when the first Constituent Assembly (CA) was dissolved without drafting the new constitution.

On September 9, when the protests turned violent—targeting state institutions such as the executive, legislature, and judiciary—Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down in an effort to calm tensions. However, his resignation failed to pacify the growing unrest. In response, the Nepal Army (NA), albeit a bit late, stepped in to restore law and order across the country. NA not only restored relative calm but also strategically engaged with both protestors to keep the street peaceful.  After stabilizing the situation, the NA handed over political responsibility to President Ram Chandra Poudel. Following intensive negotiations with protestors, political parties, and constitutional experts, President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as prime minister—a decision favored by a section of the protestors.

However, this move has raised serious constitutional debates. Karki is not a sitting member of Parliament, and the 2015 constitution lacks any provision for appointing a non-parliamentarian as Prime Minister. The presidential statement justifying her appointment does not cite any specific constitutional clause. Instead, it claims that the President exercised his inherent constitutional authority as the guardian of the constitution in an "abnormal and difficult" situation, and that the appointment was made with the consent of outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Further controversy erupted when, based on Karki’s recommendation, the President dissolved Parliament and announced general elections for March 5, 2026. While this move has temporarily filled the executive vacuum, it has opened the door to a major constitutional showdown likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court. Political parties mainly Nepali Congress had advised amending the constitution to pave the way for Karki’s appointment as prime minister but those suggestions were ultimately ignored.

Although there were fears that the constitution might be dismantled under pressure from the streets, it has—at least for now—survived, and parties are thankful to the president. Yet, the path forward remains fraught. The Nepal Bar Association has condemned the dissolution of Parliament as unconstitutional, arguing that it violates past Supreme Court rulings and undermines democratic principles. It warned that such moves could erode public trust in the constitution and democratic institutions. Notably, the oath-taking ceremony of the new Prime Minister was marked by the absence of key figures such as the Speakers of both houses and heads of constitutional bodies, signaling a growing institutional disconnect.

A key challenge for the Karki-led government is whether it can successfully conduct elections within six months, as mandated by the President. Achieving this will require navigating the conflicting interests of political parties and street protestors. Failure to hold timely elections could plunge the country into yet another constitutional crisis, especially since there will be no legislature in place to resolve it. Historically, the international community has played a key role in supporting Nepal’s elections, constitution drafting, and democratic consolidation.

But today, the global geopolitical environment has changed. Even democratic countries appear more concerned with strategic interests than championing democracy and human rights. International actors now prefer to maintain working relationships with whoever holds power, regardless of their democratic credentials. Domestically, public trust in political parties has eroded due to years of perceived corruption, incompetence, and anti-democratic tendencies. Meanwhile, a growing internal movement is openly calling for the dismantling of the 2015 constitution, and with it, the abolition of federalism, secularism, and the broader democratic framework.

In such a volatile scenario, the media has a vital role to play in safeguarding democracy. Unfortunately, over the past year, media freedom has come under systematic attack. During the protests, prominent media houses such as Annapurna Media Network and Kantipur Media Group were targeted, with their offices torched during pro-monarchy demonstrations in May. These attacks inflicted significant material damage and deep psychological trauma on journalists. Yet, the international community has remained largely silent on these violations of press freedom. In addition to physical attacks, journalists face increasing online and offline threats, further shrinking Nepal’s civic space. It remains uncertain whether the new government will initiate investigations into these incidents, or whether national and international stakeholders will take meaningful action.

In conclusion, Nepal’s hard-won constitution—which institutionalized democracy, federalism, secularism, and minority rights—is now under serious threat. The immediate priority for all political parties, civil society, and democratic stakeholders should be to support the current government in conducting free and fair elections within the next six months. However, they must also maintain constant vigilance to ensure the government does not veer toward unconstitutional or autocratic practices.

Recent developments suggest that the Nepal Army, while active in stabilizing the situation, is not interested in staging a coup and appears to be respecting constitutional values. Similarly, President Poudel has, despite making compromises, largely positioned himself as a defender of democracy and constitutional order. The coming months will be decisive. The success of the new government depends on PM Kari’s ability to adopt a broader and more inclusive approach to national issues. As a former chief justice, there are high expectations that Karki will uphold the constitution and remain uncompromising in her commitment to democracy.

Neighbouring country India has welcomed the formation of the new interim government in Nepal. 

Issuing a statement, Indian Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the development immediately after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took charge as the Interim Prime Minister. 

“We welcome the formation of the new interim government under the leadership of Sushila Karki. We hope this would help in fostering peace and stability in Nepal”, the statement read. 

As a close neighbour, a fellow democracy and a long-term development partner, India will continue to work together with Nepal for the welfare and prosperity of both the nations and the people, it has been stated.