Islamabad, 26 December 2022 (TDI): The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The Prime Minister further emphasized his desire to cooperate with Dahal to deepen bilateral ties and regional collaboration between Pakistan & Nepal.
New Prime Minister of Nepal
Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Sunday appointed Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leader of the parliamentary party ‘Maoist Centre’ as Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation.
Dahal’s Maoist Centre party won 32 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. Additionally, he collected the support of over half the newly elected lower house of Parliament. Seven parties have pledged their support for him.
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Dahal will preside over the government only for the first half of the five-year term. As part of a power-sharing agreement, he is set to stand down in 2025 and be succeeded by a leader of the Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML).
Who is Dahal?
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known by his nom de guerre name, Prachanda, meaning “the fierce one,” commanded the Maoist communists’ armed insurgency from 1996 to 2006.
The Maoists abandoned their armed struggle in 2006 and joined a United Nations (UN) assisted peace process, transforming into a political party. His party won parliamentary elections in 2008.
Dahal served as Prime Minister for a year before resigning due to disagreements with the President. From 2016 to 2017, he served as Prime Minister for a second time.
Pakistan-Nepal diplomatic ties
Both countries officially develop diplomatic relations on 20 March 1962. Since then, both countries have attempted to expand bilateral commerce, strategic, and military collaboration.
Nepal established a residential Embassy in Islamabad in 1962 and Honorary Nepali Consulate General in Karachi in 1975. Similarly, Pakistan has had its Embassy in Kathmandu since 1963.
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Nepal and Pakistan signed their first trade agreement in 1962, and the Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission was established in 1983.
Both governments share similar perspectives on many subjects of mutual concern. They collaborate closely in several international and regional forums, including the UN, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
It is pertinent to note that the total trade value between both countries is still minuscule at US$4.8 million.
This is due to Nepal’s geographical restrictions and India’s refusal to authorize a land transit route to Nepal. Anyhow, strengthening Pakistan-Nepal ties has immense potential for both parties.
