Over the past three years, the world has witnessed four major wars, each affecting Nepal to varying degrees. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Israel-Palestine war also erupted that year following a terrorist attack. India and Pakistan engaged in a short but deadly war after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, and most recently, the Iran-US-Israel conflict unfolded. Iran and Israel have now reached a ceasefire agreement after a 12-day-long war. During this time, the United States carried out brief and targeted strikes on three Iranian sites.
As in previous conflicts, the Nepal government had to focus on the rescue of its citizens from Israel and Iran. Evacuation efforts are already underway. Two Nepali nationals have returned home, and the remaining 14 are expected soon. Responding to Nepal’s request, the Indian government also evacuated Nepali nationals along with its own. The absence of a Nepali embassy in Tehran and a lack of formal communication channels made the evacuation process particularly difficult.
During the Iran-Israel war, the Nepal government did not issue any official statement. Nepal has shared a long and cordial relationship with Israel since establishing diplomatic ties in 1960. It was, in fact, the first South Asian country to recognize Israel. Since the beginning of the Iran-Israel war and the subsequent US strikes, Nepal has faced no significant pressure from political parties or the strategic community to issue a statement. However, some left-leaning parties, including the main opposition CPN (Maoist), condemned the US strikes on Iran. A few civil society organizations held demonstrations in Kathmandu, calling for an end to the conflict. Although Nepali political leaders and officials have met Iranian counterparts on the sidelines of multilateral forums, no formal bilateral engagements have taken place.
Regarding the Israel-Palestine war, Nepal promptly condemned the Hamas attack on the very day it occurred. The attack claimed the lives of 10 Nepali students, and the whereabouts of Bipin Joshi remain unknown. “The Government of Nepal vehemently denounces the recent act of terrorism in Israel, which tragically resulted in the loss of precious human lives and left many others injured,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. Notably, later statements from the ministry omitted the word “terrorist,” a shift that caught the attention of foreign policy analysts. Meanwhile, Israel has expressed some reservations about Nepal’s voting positions on issues concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict. In recent votes, Nepal has supported calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 this year, which killed 25 tourists—including one Nepali—India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, engaged in a four-day conflict from May 7 to 10. In response, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued two statements: the first on April 23 and the second on May 8. The April 23 statement unequivocally condemned the “barbaric terrorist attack on innocent tourists” and expressed Nepal’s solidarity with the Indian government and people.
On May 8, amid the India-Pakistan conflict, Nepal reaffirmed its stance against terrorism. The statement expressed deep concern over rising tensions and reiterated Nepal’s commitment to fighting terrorism in all forms. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava reportedly thanked Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for Nepal’s support. Before and after the conflict, several Indian politicians visited Kathmandu for wide-ranging discussions. A few regional programs on terrorism in South Asia were also held in the capital. Interestingly, Nepali political leaders and the strategic community remained relatively silent on the India-Pakistan tensions.
The Russia-Ukraine war had a more visible impact on Nepal, largely due to US involvement. Following Russia’s invasion in Feb 2022, Nepal joined the international chorus condemning Russia’s actions. Nepal even voted in an emergency session of the UN General Assembly against Russia’s invasion, calling for an immediate withdrawal and adherence to international law.
This move sparked considerable debate within Nepal. Many argued that Nepal’s vote aligned too closely with Western powers and went against its traditional non-aligned foreign policy. In subsequent UN votes on the war, Nepal adopted a more neutral stance. The conflict’s economic repercussions were felt in Nepal, though not as acutely as in many other parts of the world.
Interestingly, soon after the war began, Moscow proposed advancing bilateral cooperation with Kathmandu. At the same time, the US pressured Nepal to avoid engagement with Russia on business and other matters. Most communist parties in Nepal expressed support for Russia, arguing that Ukraine had failed to acknowledge Russia’s security concerns. However, when it came to light that Russia was recruiting Nepali youth into its army, public and political criticism intensified. Since Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Russian activity in Kathmandu has increased, with more visits from Russian political, business and other delegations.
A close analysis of these four wars suggests that Nepal has not been significantly affected, at least directly. The country continues to adhere to its long-standing policy of non-alignment. Still, there is growing domestic debate about whether this policy remains viable in a rapidly-changing geopolitical landscape. For now, despite changes in leadership, Nepal has not deviated from its foundational foreign policy approach when dealing with global conflicts.
