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Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu held a meeting today.

In the meeting held at leader Deuba's personal residence at Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, they discussed various aspects of bilateral issues, according to Bhanu Deuba, Chief Personal Secretary to NC President Deuba.

Discussions on contemporary issues also figured in the meeting, added Chief Personal Secretary Deuba.

Assistant Secretary of State Lu arrived in Nepal on Sunday.

While in Nepal, he is scheduled to have courtesy meetings with senior leaders of Nepal and engage with civil society, according to the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

The visit is expected to further bolster the Nepal-US ties and foster cooperation between the two countries on key areas including environmental protection, women's empowerment, cultural preservation and sustainable development.

United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu arrived in Nepal on Sunday.

Before Nepal, he visited India and Sri Lanka.

While in Nepal, he will be meeting with senior leaders of Nepal to advance cooperation on environmental protection, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development, said the US Department of State.  

He will also meet with youth leaders to gain insights into their vision for the future of US-Nepal relations. Additionally, discussions will emphasize the importance of cultural preservation, recognizing Nepal’s rich heritage as a cornerstone of its identity and a key driver of its tourism and economy.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu stated that Assistant Secretary of State Lu's visit will contribute towards strengthening US-Nepal ties.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended warm greetings and cordial felicitations to the governments and people of the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on the auspicious occasion of the fortieth anniversary of SAARC Charter Day today.

In the felicitation message, PM Oli stressed SAARC's prominent role in fostering mutual trust, understanding and cooperation among member states, and expressed firm commitments of Nepal- current SAARC Chair- to its Charters for building a peaceful, prosperous and integrated South Asia. It was mentioned in a press statement released by the Foreign Ministry today.

Highlighting persisting socioeconomic and environmental challenges including climate change and transnational organized crimes, the PM also called for revitalizing SAARC process for promoting shared interest and prosperity of the people in the regions.

Similarly, in a separate message, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba expressed best wishes to the governments and the people of SAARC member states on this special occasion. Minister Rana acknowledged the vision of founding leaders and importance of SAARC Charter in promoting collective self-reliance, improving quality of life of people and fostering regional solidarity to address multiple challenges faced commonly by the member states.

She also underscored the need for reviving and enabling SAARC to live up to its objective including SDGs in the spirit of amity, mutual consensus enshrined in the Charter.

Dec 5, 8 am

Tinkune

When I entered the tea shop at 7:15 am, a man in his fifties was sharing his thoughts on the recent local body by-elections. He said the candidate of the Nepali Congress (NC), Devendra Pathak, lost in Kathmandu-16, despite campaigning by top party leaders like Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. Candidate of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rojina Shrestha, was elected from Kathmandu-16. The man, however, was delighted about NC’s victory in Kirtipur Municipality.

In one corner of the tea shop, a man, who happened to be a former government undersecretary, seemed impatient at the conversation that painted NC in a favorable light. Turning to me, he said, “Election results don’t reflect a party’s national popularity. Local factions and dynamics play a significant role in shaping outcomes.”

The first gentleman was continuing this time about the Maoist Center’s historical dominance in Kirtipur since the insurgency era. “Many Maoist leaders sought refuge there,” he explained, emphasizing how caste and community ties continue to shape voting patterns.

The focus then shifted to RSP, with one participant arguing that its urban popularity endures. “Urban voters are less ideological,” he said. “They’re disillusioned with NC and UML. This dissatisfaction dates back to the Panchayat era and has lingered.”

The NC sympathizer acknowledged internal challenges, especially in candidate selection. “If the party selects the right candidates, it could become the largest political force in the next election,” he asserted. After some thought, he backed away from his statement, and suggested that UML’s robust grassroots organization could secure it the top spot instead.

Someone asked about voter turnout, estimated at around 60 percent. The group attributed the decline to three factors: frustration with political stagnation, the exodus of youth abroad, and apathy among younger voters, many of whom haven’t registered. I shared a related insight from my college class earlier in the week: out of 25 students, only four were registered voters, and just one had cast a ballot in the last election. A participant grimly predicted even lower turnout in 2027 as more youth leave the country.

The discussion broadened to Nepal’s leadership crisis. “Our leaders don’t read,” one participant lamented. “They lack vision and fail to devise meaningful reforms.” Another added, “Politicians surround themselves with opportunistic cadres, not experts who can offer genuine solutions.”

Corruption was another hot topic. “Chaos and corruption are rampant,” someone said. “Accountability is non-existent. Those involved must face penalties.”

As the debate on NC and UML continued, a man who worked for a government ministry weighed in with his argument. He said business people and contractors were taking over the NC, sidelining honest and intellectual individuals. “Look at the lawmakers from districts around the Kathmandu Valley—Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, most of them are contractors consolidating their influence,” he said. “We can’t expect anything positive from such leaders.”

The first gentleman who had been steering much of the earlier discussion tried to shift gears. “Politics aside, I focus on my health,” he said, his voice tinged with pride. While he didn’t disclose his age, he hinted at his good health compared to his peers. “Take care of your body. Avoid diabetes, hypertension, and aim for 80 years. Every Nepali should strive for a healthy life,” he advised.

His effort went in vain, as the conversation led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent China visit and the murky agreements on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A participant raised concerns over the term “aid financing,” questioning whether it referred to a loan or a grant. A man reading a newspaper cited former Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal, who described it as a concessional loan. Another voice interjected, claiming it was merely political jargon meant to confuse the public.

As I left the tea shop, I was pondering the complexity of our socio-political landscape.