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Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana met with Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, on Monday to discuss the evolving situation resulting from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Rana inquired about the condition of Nepali citizens currently in Israel amid the conflict. She expressed concern over the safety of Nepalis living there and requested the ambassador to ensure their protection.

Ambassador Bass assured the minister that Nepalis in Israel are currently safe and that the Israeli government is committed to the security of all foreign nationals, including Nepalis.

The Foreign Ministry has instructed Nepali embassies in Israel and Qatar to prioritize the safety and well-being of Nepali citizens residing in Israel and Iran. Minister Deuba also held telephone conversations with Nepali ambassadors in Tel Aviv and Doha, directing them to remain in close contact with Nepali nationals and provide regular updates on security advisories issued by the respective governments.

According to the ministry, around 5,500 Nepalis are currently in Israel and 12 in Iran. Given the escalating conflict, the Government of Nepal is “closely monitoring the developments and will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and interests of Nepali nationals in the region”.

The ministry has also requested Nepalis in need of assistance to contact the Nepali embassies in Tel Aviv and Doha (Qatar). The Nepali Embassy in Pakistan concurrently looks after matters concerning Iran in the absence of an embassy in the Gulf nation. Nepal and Iran established diplomatic relations in 1964. However, Nepal closed its embassy in Tehran in 1981 following the Islamic Revolution.

Against this backdrop, coordination for Nepalis in Iran is facilitated through the Nepali Embassy in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala, who had traveled to Israel to study cooperative practices, remains stranded due to the closure of international borders amid the conflict. Mayor Koirala is reportedly taking shelter in a bunker. He stated that he is currently safe in a city located 30 kilometers from the capital. He was scheduled to return to Nepal on June 20, but the escalating tensions and airport closures have made his return uncertain.

As tensions flare in the Middle East following Iran’s counterattack on Israel, concern has grown over the safety of Nepali citizens living in the region. Bhupal Luitel spoke with Nepali Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, to understand the current situation on the ground, the status of Nepalis there, the embassy’s contingency plans, and the latest updates on Bipin Joshi, the Nepali national who has been missing since the Hamas attack in Oct 2023. Excerpts:

We’ve heard a state of emergency was declared after the counterattacks between Israel and Iran began. What is the current situation there now?

The attack began at 3 pm local time here. Even as I am speaking to you, sirens continue to sound intermittently. The first missile attack on Tel Aviv took place at 9 pm. Then, from 1-2 am to 3-4 am, the attack continued with loud noise. The situation here is fine as of 7 am. People are rushing to bunkers within 90 seconds of the siren and remain there for at least 10 minutes. After Israel launched its attack on Iran, there have been reports of hundreds of drones being launched in response, most of which have been intercepted by Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ defense system. Since the incident began, I’ve been in frequent contact with Nepali government officials and members of the Nepali community, regularly updating them on the situation here.

How many Nepalis are there, and what is their situation?

Neither the Nepali government nor the embassy has accurate data on the actual number of Nepalis in Israel. While the official records only those who came through the G2G (government-to-government) mechanism, there are also Nepalis who arrived via India using Indian passports. Even though they are not counted in official statistics, they continue to send remittances to Nepal—so for practical purposes, they should be considered. This discrepancy makes it difficult to assess the actual number. However, if we include both legal and undocumented individuals, the estimated number of Nepalis in Israel ranges between 5,000 and 7,000. We have contacted the Nepalis and asked them to take help from us but 99 percent of the Nepalis said that they don’t want us to rescue them. There are two reasons for this. One is the job with an attractive salary and the other is the situation where you will not be able to return and get the same job here.
 

As for the current situation, there is no immediate reason for panic among the Nepali community, but discipline and preparedness are crucial. The most important thing is to strictly follow the safety protocols—this includes immediately going to the bunker when sirens sound, avoiding unnecessary movement outside, and especially refraining from going out during times of active crisis.

It’s difficult to assess how the war will unfold. If it escalates further, what preparations has the embassy made?

We are in constant communication with the Nepali government, Nepali citizens in Israel, and their families back home. If the situation escalates into a full-scale war, our response will be limited by our capabilities and available resources. In such a scenario, we would also seek support from neighboring countries. I am currently in touch with ambassadors from Cyprus, India, Thailand, and others to make contingency plans in case a rescue operation becomes necessary for Nepalis.
 

Recently, a delegation including Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala arrived here amidst much confusion. I met with him and helped facilitate their return to Nepal via Cyprus. At the same time, I’ve come across Nepalis who have only recently arrived in Israel. Many of them are facing challenges—from not understanding Hebrew to feeling unsafe in older bunkers. I’m working with local officials to ensure they receive the support they need.
 

We have already issued an advisory to all Nepalis here. However, if the war intensifies significantly, I must honestly say that our capacity to evacuate all Nepalis is extremely limited. For comparison, India has around 30,000 to 35,000 citizens here, and it is unlikely they could evacuate everyone at once. Sri Lanka has a similar number, the Philippines about 30,000, and China around 40,000. In such a crisis, every country faces limitations.

We have no choice but to seek international assistance if needed. That said, Nepal has a history of stepping up during crises. If evacuation becomes impossible, the best course of action would be for Nepalis to remain in safe shelters with adequate supplies of food, water, and essentials

It has been about six months since you arrived in Israel as an ambassador. What is the status of Bipin Joshi?

As of now, we still do not have any clear information regarding the status of Bipin Joshi. The Israeli government does not know, nor does the local army. Of the remaining three hostages, Hamas recently returned the body of a Thai citizen who had reportedly died back in December 2023. A Nigerian hostage has also been confirmed dead, and there are reports that his body is being prepared for return. But when it comes to Joshi’s status, I truly cannot say anything beyond this at this point.

The invention of the printing press by German inventor Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century revolutionized the mass distribution of knowledge and information, significantly transforming the practice of politics. More than five centuries later, we are witnessing a similar technological upheaval with the explosive rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is reshaping every sphere of society, including politics and democracy, at an even greater and more profound scale. While the Gutenberg press enabled the spread of knowledge, generative AI can not only disseminate information but also produce vast volumes of text, video, audio and images without human input. 

However, unlike previous communication technologies of the past 500 years, AI is a double-edged sword for democracy. Used responsibly, it can strengthen democratic systems. Misused, it could seriously undermine them. The impact of AI on democracy is complex and multifaceted. When harnessed properly, AI can enhance civic engagement, voter education, governance, election transparency and integrity. Democratic governments can use AI to solicit public input on policy matters or gather feedback during decision-making processes. Around the world, AI is transforming election campaigns and automating electoral procedures. In Nepal, the government could use AI-enabled platforms to gather public feedback on its proposed AI policies and regulations. AI can also serve as a tool to combat fake news, disinformation and misinformation which undermine democratic institutions and erode public trust. Moreover, AI has the potential to reduce election costs for both the state and political parties, minimizing the influence of money and muscle in shaping voting behavior.

At the same time,  AI also presents serious threats to democracy. Deep fakes, AI-generated content that convincingly mimics real people and events, are already blurring the lines between truth and fake.  In Nepal, a flood of AI-generated misinformation is spreading across social media, targeting politicians and political parties, and eroding public trust in the political system. Unfortunately, there has been little research or public debate on this issue, even as malicious actors continue to exploit these tools to manipulate opinion.

There is no concrete data yet on the extent of misinformation and disinformation in Nepal’s 2017 and 2022 elections. However, it is clear that these issues will significantly affect future polls. Candidates with greater financial and technological resources are likely to benefit disproportionately. This will widen the gap between the powerful and the under-resourced.

In the recent 2024 and 2025 elections in countries like India, the US, Germany and across South Asia, AI-generated false content was widely circulated to influence voters. While high levels of digital literacy in some of these democracies may have mitigated the impact, countries like Nepal, with lower digital literacy, remain highly vulnerable to such tactics. Additionally, Nepal faces the risk of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), as observed in recent elections in India, the US and Taiwan, due to its geopolitical factors and the preference of big powers over one party over other to advance their strategic interests. Some signs of FIMI were observed during the debate over the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) between 2019 and 2022. However, this remains to be independently verified.

Due to low digital literacy, many in Nepal are unable to recognize AI-generated fake content which shapes public opinion and even influences top politicians. For instance, senior leader Bam Dev Gautam once called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign based on a fake video. In such a context, AI is more likely to exacerbate democratic vulnerabilities unless strong regulation is put in place. 

Deliberations are underway across the world about AI governance and regulation. While the European Union, Germany and the United Kingdom have made some progress, even their approaches are struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI. In 2024, the United Nations emphasized the need for a global AI regulatory body. A UN report noted that if AI-related risks grow more severe and concentrated, the world may need a stronger international institution with monitoring, enforcement and accountability powers.

Nepal is still in the early stages of AI governance. Even though AI adoption in sectors like health, education and governance is increasing, the unchecked use of AI for spreading misinformation has been a concerning issue for the country. Although the government has drafted the National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2025, public awareness has remained low. Feedback from stakeholders has also been mixed. The policy envisions establishing a National AI Council, AI Regulatory Body and an AI Excellence Center.  However, there has been delay in preparing legal and institutional frameworks to set up these institutions. Moreover, the draft policy misses some crucial aspects of AI regulation.

Globally, companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Google dominate the market for cloud computing resources used to train and deploy AI models. In Nepal, AI systems are likely to be controlled either by government agencies or by corporate entities close to power. In this context, time has come to discuss the idea of publicly-owned AI, developed and managed for the collective good. We must also begin discussions on creating a democratic, robust and transparent institution to govern AI in the national interest.

To make this a reality, the government must invest in AI capacity-building, including training human resources capable of leading AI governance. To reduce the harms and maximize the benefits of AI in democratic systems, state institutions must act now. In particular, the Election Commission should develop specific policies and infrastructure to safeguard upcoming elections from AI-enabled threats and malign actors seeking to erode democracy.

Annapurna Media Network on Saturday organized an 'EV Rally' to raise awareness about climate change and reducing air pollution.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel inaugurated the fourth edition of the AMN 'EV Rally' organized at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu today.

The rally, which started from Bhrikutimandap passed through Bhadrakali, Tripureshwor, Teku, Kalimati, Soltimod, Kalanki, Balkhu, Dhobighat, Ekantakuna, Jawalakhel, Kupandol and Tripureshwor before converging into a gathering at Bhrikutimandap.