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A meeting of the opposition parties held on Sunday decided to allow Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament.

The meeting of the opposition parties held at the Parliament building in New Baneshwor under the leadership of the Nepali Congress decided to allow Home Minister Lamichhane to speak in Parliament, a leader, who attended the meeting, said.

“Home Minister Lamichhane, who is accused of embezzling funds of cooperatives, has been saying he should be allowed to speak in the Parliament. He will speak in the Parliament and we will listen,” he said.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi informed that the opposition parties have agreed to allow Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament.

After Lamichhane expressed his views in the Parliament, the opposition parties would seek time from the Speaker, he said.

“We will allow the Home Minister to speak in the Parliament. Then, we will ask time with the Speaker for the opposition parties to speak. Probably, Nepali Congress will speak on behalf of the opposition parties,” Shahi said.

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to form a parliamentary committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane.

Mahesh Bartaula of CPN-UML, Jeevan Pariyar of the Nepali Congress, Shishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are the members of the task force formed under the headship of Law Minister Padam Giri.

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to form a parliamentary committee to probe the cooperative scam.

A meeting of the ruling and opposition parties held in Baluwatar on Saturday agreed to form the parliamentary probe committee.

A task force under Law Minister Padam Giri will be formed for the same.

The main opposition Nepali Congress Deputy General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Shishir Khanal will be the members of the task force.

It has been said that the task force will proceed with its business after the term of reference (ToR) is finalized.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, National Assembly Parliamentary Party leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak were present in the meeting.

The Congress has been obstructing the Parliament demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to probe fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane.

The US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) was a hotly debated topic in political and diplomatic circles from 2019 to 2022, though discussions have subsided somewhat since then. In Nepal, discourse on the IPS has been dominated by its security and strategic components, with support for this initiative often viewed as joining the US-led military alliance.

In a veiled reference to IPS, Nepali leaders often say that Nepal cannot and should not join any military alliances as it goes against the country’s long-standing commitment to the non-alignment policy. Bolstering Indo-Pacific security is a key part of the IPS which faced stiff opposition in Nepal after the country was mentioned in the 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report by the US Department of Defense.

Additionally, some US documents claimed that Nepal had joined the State Partnership Program (SPP), prompting Nepal to reportedly request for removal from the SPP. Some SPP documents, however, still include Nepal. Nepali leaders also briefly put off the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project, stating that it was part of the IPS. Discussions on the IPS in Nepal are framed around these two issues, but the strategy encompasses much more.

For the US and international strategic community, the 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy unveiled by the Biden administration serves as the guiding document on IPS and its execution. The Trump administration had placed the military component as the central pillar of the strategy which landed it in controversy. So, the Biden administration introduced a new Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), which has now entered its third year of implementation. US officials are currently occupied with compiling progress reports on a country-by-country basis. Contrary to the Trump administration’s confrontational approach toward China, the Biden administration’s IPS adopts a different stance. It consists of five pillars: promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, fostering connections within and beyond the region, driving Indo-Pacific prosperity, enhancing Indo-Pacific security, and building regional resilience to 21st-century transnational threats.  Biden’s IPS focuses more on economic cooperation, capacity building of regional partners, and the view that US resources alone are insufficient. 

A frequently asked question in Nepal is whether the country is already a part of the IPS. This is a tricky question and the answer can be both yes and no. Those who view the IPS solely through the prism of security and military cooperation say Nepal is not involved. However, considering all components of the strategy and its implementation, Nepal can be seen as a part of the IPS. US officials and experts have often clarified that the IPS is an overarching framework outlining how the US, as a superpower, envisions the Indo-Pacific region. Nepal, being the landlocked country situated between India and China, is a high priority in the region. US officials have stated in documents that ‘Nepal can play a vital role in the Indo-Pacific region’ and that Nepal is ‘a valued partner in the Indo-Pacific’.

The broader context suggests Nepal is indeed a high priority for the US within its overarching Indo-Pacific policy. In recent years, the US has stepped up diplomatic engagements with Nepal through high-level visits. These visits have focused on increasing US development assistance to Nepal, attracting private investment, promoting democracy and human rights, curbing corruption, and boosting collaboration across sectors. At the same time, the IMF, World Bank and other financial institutions have also intensified their engagements with Nepal. The MCC compact is a case in point.

Looking at how the IPS is being implemented in Nepal through various US agencies like USAID, there are investments “to strengthen democratic institutions for good governance and human rights; foster sustainable, inclusive, transparent economic growth; and improve resilience to health and climate threats” which is the thrust of IPS.

Let’s consider some specific cases now. The first pillar of the IPS is a free and open Indo-Pacific. Targeting the first pillar, the US has been supporting Nepal across domains like governance, democratic values, security and stability. This includes working with Nepal’s media, civil society and key institutions to build capacity, as well as security cooperation with Nepali forces on disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance, border security, and more.

US agencies are actively engaged in Nepal across other pillars of the IPS. The US closely coordinates with allies and partners, recognizing its resources alone are insufficient for the region's challenges. Hence, allies like Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and the UK are also expanding their presence and investments aligned with their own Indo-Pacific outlooks.

While the IPS has many facets, discussions and understanding in Nepal have been narrow. Obviously, there are challenges in dealing with the strategic initiatives, but time has come to make an understanding and position about what IPS means to Nepal. In the lack of an official government position, politicians and bureaucrats face difficulties addressing IPS-related issues and projects, particularly with the US.

As Nepal desperately seeks investment across sectors, the US and its partners are exploring opportunities, alongside emerging economies eyeing Nepal. Rather than shying away or viewing the IPS solely as a military strategy, there is a need for open dialogue to build an accurate understanding. The IPS involves US engagement with Nepal on clean energy, climate change, disaster preparedness and facilitating regional power trading agreements. On energy cooperation, the US is working closely with south Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The US also played a vital role in facilitating a regional power trading agreement in South Asia. Regarding climate change, the US partners with various organizations in Nepal, particularly targeting youth engagement—an area where Nepal can greatly benefit as it already faces impacts from climate-induced disasters. Another associated issue is preparedness for disaster response and relief operations. 

There is a need to build an understanding of the IPS to provide clear thoughts and ideas on how to address these challenges. Better comprehension of the multifaceted IPS can offer Nepal significant benefits. However, there are inherent risks if Nepal fails to develop a uniform and consensus-based position on it.

The Barbara Foundation has awarded the top prize of this year’s ‘Barbara Foundation Investigative Journalism Award 2024’ to Devendra Bhattarai, Matrika Dahal, Deepa Dahal, and Ramesh Kumar. Bhattarai and Matrika Dahal.

The four joint winners were feted for a series of news stories, published on Kantipur daily, that exposed the fake Bhutanese refugee scam involving various politicians and high level government officials, among others.

The award, carrying a purse of Rs 1.6m, was presented by actors Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya, and the foundation’s chair, Dr Sanduk Ruit, at an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Deepa Dahal of Ukaalo.com and Ramesh Kumar of Himal Khabar won the second and third prizes, respectively.  Dahal was awarded with RS 600,000 for uncovering the illegal appropriation of government land in Bansbari, while Kumar received Rs 300,000 as prize money for exposing the manipulation in the securities market.

Akhilesh Upadhyay, a member of the foundation, mentioned that 83 journalists had applied for the award, and four of them were selected as recipients. Among the applicants, around 90 percent were from print and online media, although investigative journalism extends beyond these platforms. 

Upadhyay emphasized the significant role investigative journalism plays in creating an accountable society. He also noted that investigative journalism encompasses not only exposing corruption and political issues but also addressing social issues.