Nepal Parliamentary Panel Clears Ambassadorial Nominees to 10 Countries, Including India

Nepal’s Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Wednesday endorsed the proposed appointments of ambassadors to 10 countries, including India, China and the United States, clearing a key step towards filling diplomatic posts abroad.

The committee approved Nischal Nath Pandey as Nepal’s proposed ambassador to India, Kalyan Raj Sharma to China and Chiranjung Thapa to the United States, Parliament Secretariat spokesperson Ekram Giri said.

The other nominees cleared by the committee are proposed ambassadors to the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Oman, South Korea, Spain and Sri Lanka.

The endorsements follow the Cabinet’s recommendation of 13 ambassadorial nominees on September 18. However, three of the proposed appointments are still awaiting a decision from the Parliamentary Hearing Committee.

With the latest approvals, the endorsed nominations will now be forwarded to the respective countries to obtain their agrément, the formal consent required from a host country before a proposed ambassador can be officially appointed.

Agrément is a standard diplomatic procedure through which a receiving country agrees to accept a foreign government’s nominee as its ambassador or head of mission. The appointment can be formally completed after the necessary approval is secured.

The committee’s decision marks an important stage in Nepal’s process of appointing diplomatic representatives to the 10 countries. The remaining three nominations are yet to receive parliamentary clearance.

The appointments are expected to be finalised in accordance with the prescribed diplomatic procedures, including approval from the respective host countries.