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Former ministers and experts on foreign affairs have advised the government to give priority to utilizing the visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, to Nepal, to secure maximum benefits.  The Emir from Qatar will be paying a two-day state visit to Nepal beginning on April 23, tomorrow.

They believed that Nepal could learn ways from Qatar, a country with a small geography and size, to explore ways for achieving prosperity in a short period in the presence of a far-sighted leadership with maximum utilization of available resources.

Former minister Surendra Kumar Karki praised the role of Qatar in contributing to the international peace establishment significantly, though the country is territorially smaller.

He said that Qatar is exploring its facilitating and decisive roles in establishing regional peace, strengthening international relations and managing significant political tension.

Nepal could learn many things from the experiences of Qatar in efforts to achieve peace when it is pursuing the establishment of a durable peace after the conflict by concluding the peace process, he added.

Besides, Qatar serves as one of the major labor destinations for Nepali migrant workers. Nepal receives a large chunk of remittance from Qatar. The high-level visit taking place from Qatar will be utilized as a moment for promoting the rights of Nepali workers in Qatar and their dignity with the availability of decent job opportunities for them.

The former Minister and Maoist Center leader suggested that it would be beneficial for Nepal if the visit could be utilized as an opportunity to bring about Qatar's investment in the processing of drinking water in the Himalayan regions and the production of organic agricultural products.

CPN-UML leader and expert on foreign affairs, Dr Rajan Bhattarai commended the path of prosperity that Qatar has found amidst severe climate adversity and limited human resources.  Qatar is advancing itself through a multi-dimensional approach, it is exploring its leading role in the global forum and a significant role in dispute management in the Middle Eastern nations, according to Bhattarai.

Stating that Qatar is seeking to establish itself as a 'world champion' in the resolution of the unrest in the Middle East including in Hamas and Israel, he said Qatar is being developed as an international transit hub in the course of its efforts to expand air connectivity in the global forum.

From the diplomatic perspective, the Qatari Emir's upcoming visit to Nepal stands as a symbol and an example that Nepal is moving on a positive path. "Qatar is an economically prosperous country in the Middle East. Over 400,000 Nepali migrant workers are working in Qatar at present. Nepali migrant workers have shed blood and sweat for the development and prosperity of Qatar. Against this backdrop, the visit of Qatari Emir to Nepal is a matter of great importance and an opportunity,' he observed.

Stating that Nepal could also benefit from Qatar's advancement for the economic development and prosperity, he emphasized creating an enabling environment in Nepal for job creations for the youths rather than sending labor forces offshore.

Dr Bhattarai further asserted, "There's a high prospect of investment in Nepal from Qatar and other Middle East countries. Export from Nepal to Qatar could be increased. Nepal has been importing fuel in a huge quantity. We could make an effort to secure some concessional cooperation towards this end as well. Nepal should pitch these issues and advance the discussion during the visit."

According to him, securing the welfare of the Nepali migrant workers in Qatar and addressing the issues relating to their employment should be a part of the regular agenda of the Nepal's government during Emir's visit.

Bhattarai added, "Qatar has achieved economic prosperity in the last few years by capitalizing on its natural resources. It is advancing in terms of development and economic prosperity thanks to an able leadership with a good vision coupled with political stability. It has taught us a lesson that we could move ahead by optimizing the natural resources."

Similarly, Nepali Congress leader and former minister for foreign affairs Dr Narayan Khadka opined that Qatar was succeeding diplomatically and economically lately. "Countries like the USA and the UK among others have been seeking Qatar's mediation in any form in resolving the dispute between Israel and Hamas," he mentioned.

He viewed that discussion and consultation on the facilities for the Nepali migrant workers in Qatar should be held during the Emir's visit. He suggested a timely amendment in the labor pact between Nepal and Qatar.

According to him, the Qatari Emir's visit in the eve of the third Investment Summit was an opportune time to create an environment of confidence for the international community to consider investment in Nepal.

Khadka expressed his belief that the ties between the two countries could be expanded at people-to-people level if a training center would be established in cooperation with Qatar to impart training to aspiring Nepali migrant workers.

He suggested Nepal should accord hospitality with heart wide open to the Qatari Emir who is arriving here for his two-day official visit by giving Nepal so much value and importance.

'Initiatives should be taken to raise pay, facilities of Nepali workers'

Similarly, Dr Narad Bhardwaj who served as Nepal's ambassador to Qatar from 2019 to 2022 has suggested utilizing the Emir's visit, which is the first high-level visit from the Middle East Asian kingdom, for securing the rights and interests of the Nepali migrant workers there.

Nearly 400 thousand Nepalis are working in different sectors in Qatar at present. According to Dr Bhardwaj, the Qataris also have interest on this topic as they are impressed by the Nepali workers.

"The government of Nepal should take initiatives on increasing the salary and job security of Nepali migrant workers in Qatar and their welfare. This is the high-level visit taken from Qatar and if the Qatari Emir gives his approval during his state visit there would not be any problem in the implementation," former ambassador Bhardwaj said.

According to him, although Qatar is a rich and developed country, the salary of Nepali workers there is comparatively low. He said the Nepali migrant workers there get lower salary compared to the pay they get in South Korea and Israel whereas Qatar is comparatively a rich and developed country.

Nepal's Former Ambassador to Qatar suggested to the Government of Nepal to lobby on this topic during the Emir's visit. Stating that in Qatar there is provision of providing accidental insurance to the Nepali workers only in case of accident at the workplace and not in the case of accident on the way or other accidents, he urged the government to raise this topic as well.

"Qatar had made efforts to take Nepali workers in the security sector before this and Nepal too has made a decision to that end. But the decision is not yet implemented. If this topic could be taken ahead during the Amir's state visit by taking cognizance of their perspective on it, it would be of much benefit to Nepal in terms of income," Dr Bhardwaj suggested.

Similarly, Qatar is seeking to take Nepali women as domestic help, but Nepal has prohibited this. At the same time a large number of Nepali women have been going to the Gulf countries on visit visas and working there as domestic workers. This issue also needs to be managed and the government should address it during the Qatari Emir's visit.

The CPN-UML has awarded the 'Republic Pride Honor' to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari. 

The honor was presented on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Communist Party of Nepal amidst a ceremony held today at the Godavari-based Sunrise Meeting Hall. 

The National Congress Representatives Council meeting of the CPN-UMLthat concluded on Sunday decided to honor the former President with the title. Bhandari is the former Vice Chair of the party. She received the award from party Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Bhandari was presented the honor in recognition of her contribution to the democratic and communist movement in the country, and to the safeguarding of national sovereignty, it is said.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN  (Unified Socialist) respected leader and former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Nepal Socialist Party Chair and former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and (former) Chair of Council of Ministers, Khilraj Regmi were among those present on the occasion.

It’s difficult to form opinions based solely on the speeches of Nepal’s political leaders and their political documents. More often than not they contradict themselves, disregarding their previous positions. 

Amid discussions of unity within communist parties, the recent political document presented by CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has sparked interest, as it explicitly states UML's reluctance to endorse polarization among major political entities under the guise of communist unity. This stance has raised eyebrows within CPN (Maoist Center). Presenting his political report at the meeting of the UML National Representatives Council in Lalitpur on Saturday, Oli emphasized that aligning political forces solely under leftist or socialist banners, while excluding other ideologies and entities, is not pragmatic. 

Instead, he stressed the importance of cooperation among like-minded forces. He highlighted the need to foster trust and cooperation among diverse ideological backgrounds, suggesting that unity should evolve naturally as trust deepens. "As cooperation deepens and an environment of trust is built, those with similar ideas can gradually come together in the future. But for now, it is more important to move forward by taking all positive forces along." 

Regarding the current political landscape, Oli acknowledged that the formation of a new alliance comprising the Maoist Center, UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and few other parties has improved the political situation. However, he expressed concerns about the sustainability of this coalition, citing past incidents. “Based on some past incidents, contexts, and experiences, there are doubts in people’s mind about the sustainability of this cooperation," Oli said. He underscored the importance of actions over rhetoric in dispelling doubts about the coalition's longevity.

Furthermore, Oli warned of the increased possibility of instability stemming from the presence of multiple parties in parliament, particularly those with diverging views on key constitutional issues. 

"The country is in need of stability. But the presence of a dozen parties in the House of Representatives and a significant number of those disagreeing on key issues of the constitution has further increased the possibility of political instability," he said. 

The UML chair also noted the emergence of populist forces and the resurgence of traditional right-wing parties, attributing these trends to disillusionment among the populace caused by political shortcomings and economic crises. "Political shortcomings, economic crisis, lack of job opportunities and poor governance have all fed the public’s disillusionment with traditional political parties. Meanwhile, populist and right-wing forces are exploiting the public discontent," he added.

While Oli's rejection of immediate leftist unity may seem like a tactical maneuver, he hasn't entirely dismissed its possibility. UML perceives the current coalition as an achievement, having thwarted the anti-UML alliance between Nepali Congress and the Maoist party preceding the 2022 national elections. 

Currently, there are three major communist parties—UML, Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist)—of which UML is the largest and strongest. In case these three parties decide to unite, the asymmetry between them is likely to make the power-sharing and leadership issue very challenging. For instance, Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal may seek vital positions within the unified party, a proposition that the UML leaders close to Oli will not accept. 

The strained relationship between Oli and Nepal could also hinder the unification process. Although the Maoist is talking about communist unity, UML and Unified Socialist do not appear too keen about the idea.  “There are no immediate possibilities of communist parties uniting because of the disparity between their ideologies and their future course,” said Rajendra Pandey, vice-chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist). 

Analysts suggest that Oli prioritizes securing unwavering commitment from all parties before pursuing communist unity in the long term. Although he envisions leading a united communist front eventually, he refrains from polarizing national politics along communist and non-communist lines for now. Uncertainty looms over the future of the current coalition, with UML closely monitoring the government’s functioning while refraining from committing to long-term support for Prime Minister Dahal. Maoist leaders say Oli’s position on left unity could be a tactical move and he may have informed Dahal about it. Or else, they say this could be the beginning of the crisis in the current coalition. 

After Oli unveiled his political document, Prime Minister Dahal has also changed his position about the communist unity. 

“This government is not wholly composed of communist parties. There are other parties too. So it is not a left unity, it is just a ruling coalition. If there is an understanding among the communist parties, they may come together some day,” Dahal said. This was a clear departure from his previous statement where he said that the current coalition was a beginning of the communist unity. 

The key takeaway from Oli’s political document is that UML currently extends support to the government, but it is also keeping avenues open for potential collaboration with Nepali Congress in the future.

The discussion of leftist unity in Nepal has drawn international attention, with China advocating for a unified communist party while other democratic powers prefer a coalition government encompassing both communist and non-communist forces. Oli's political document also addresses escalating geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, cautioning against provocative actions that could jeopardize regional stability and world peace, particularly highlighting US involvement in the Taiwan issue. “The task of safeguarding Nepal’s national independence, dignity and national interests has become more complicated, amidst the changing geopolitics, geo-economics and competition between major powers,” Oli said in his political report. “We must move forward carefully to protect our national interests by viewing these changes in geopolitics with a sensitive perspective.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government has made serious diplomatic efforts for the safe repatriation of students in the captivity of Palestinian rebels to Nepal.

Addressing the Fourth Convocation Ceremony of the Far-West University here today, PM Dahal, who is also the Chancellor of the University, expressed sorrow over the Nepali students who lost their lives in the attacks by Palestinian insurgents in Israel on October 7, 2023.

"I am deeply saddened by the incident in which our students who had gone to Israel as part of the 'Earning while Learning' program of the Far-West University's Institute of Agriculture lost their lives in the attacks by the Palestinian rebels," he said, and extended tribute to those students killed in the incident as well as expressing condolences to their family members.

The Prime Minister stated that the government has been fulfilling with alacrity the responsibility it has to undertake to bring back to Nepal the students who were injured and affected by the incident, and to repatriate the bodies of those killed in the attack. 

"Even now a student is in the captivity of the rebels. Necessary diplomatic initiatives are going on for returning him to Nepal," the PM said.

Bipin's release will also be agenda during Qatari Emir's visit to Nepal, says PM

Speaking in the same program, Prime Minister Dahal said the topic of taking initiatives for securing the release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student who is under the captivity of Hamas militants, is included in the agenda during the State visit to Nepal.

He said that the role that the Qatari Emir can play in Joshi's release is also included in the agenda of his visit.

"The government is vigorously playing its role in bringing the affected students’ home from Israel. Only this morning in an interview to a Kuwaiti television channel, I spoke on Qatar's role in securing Joshi's release and also requested to take the initiative to that end," PM Dahal said on the occasion.

PM Dahal also on the occasion handed medals to the University students who won various medals.

Minister for Education, Science and Technology and the University Pro-Chancellor, Sumana Shrestha and Professor of the Kumaun University of Uttarakhand State, India, Prof Diwan Singh Rawat also expressed their views.

Three hundred and seventy-six students were graduated in the convocation ceremony, according to the Far-West University.