News, Views From Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal:--- A sovereign state clearly articulates its principles for dealing with external forces and countries, with the objective of defending and promoting national interests abroad. These sets of principles are defined as foreign policy. All countries, big or small and weak or powerful, clearly define and frame their foreign policy goals, principles, strategies and actions commensurate with their national interests. Foreign policy principles, priorities and tools may vary depending on national strength, geographical position, geopolitical situation, and the behaviour of neighbours as well as major powers. The concept of foreign policy evolved with the evolution of human civilisation. Right from the time when human beings started living in groups, they needed to adopt their behaviour towards other groups for survival and dominance. This brought about both cooperation and conflict with one another. With the development of nation state, the behaviour of the country was give...

युव नाथ लम्साल:--- परराष्ट्र नीति व्यापक राष्ट्रिय रणनीतिको एक हिस्सा हो भने कूटनीति यसको एउटा साधन हो। कुनै पनि देशको पहिलो र प्रमुख रणनीति आफ्नो अस्तित्व र स्वतन्त्रता वा व्यापक राष्ट्रिय हित सुनिश्चित गर्नु हो। परराष्ट्र नीतिका प्राथमिकता र दिशानिर्देशका आधारमा कूटनीति सञ्चालन गरिन्छ। रणनीतिका रूपमा परराष्ट्र नीतिले राष्ट्रिय हितले के माग गर्छ भन्ने कुरा सुरक्षित गर्न खोज्छ भने साधनका रूपमा कूटनीतिले परराष्ट्र नीतिका उद्देश्यहरू कसरी प्राप्त गर्ने भन्ने कुरासँग बढी सरोकार राख्छ। कूटनीतिज्ञहरू ती हुन् जसले विदेशमा आफ्नो देशको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्छन् र परराष्ट्र नीतिको रणनीतिमा तय गरिएका लक्ष्य र उद्देश्यहरू प्राप्त गर्न कुशलतापूर्वक र चतुर ढङ्गले काम गर्छन्। कूटनीति अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय जगतमा हुने एक प्रकारको राजनीतिक अन्तरक्रिया भएकाले यसका लागि विशेष सीप, चतुरता र विशेषज्ञता आवश्यक हुन्छ, जसमा कूटनीतिज्ञहरू पूर्ण जानकार हुनुपर्छ। गहिरो आर्थिक अन्तरक्रिया र प्राविधिक उन्नतिका कारण विश्व अहिले पहिलेभन्दा धेरै एक–आपसमा जोडिएको र अन्तरनिर्भर छ, जसले गर्दा देशहरूले अन्य राष्ट्र र सरोकारवालाहरू...

Yuba Nath Lamsal:-- Foreign policy is part of the broader national strategy, whereas diplomacy is a tool. The first and foremost strategy of any country is to ensure its survival and independence or broader national interest. Based on foreign policy priorities and guidelines, diplomacy is conducted. Foreign policy, as a strategy, seeks to secure what its national interests demand, while diplomacy, as an instrument, is concerned more with how foreign policy objectives are to be achieved. Diplomats are those who represent their county abroad and act tactfully and in an astute manner to achieve the goals and objectives laid down in the foreign policy strategy. As diplomacy is a form of political interaction in the international arena, it requires special skills, acumen, and expertise with which diplomats must be well versed. The world is ever more inter-connected and interdependent due to deeper economic interaction and technological advancement, requiring countries to have multiple ty...

Yuba Nath Lamsal: --- The foreign policy of any country is always guided by national interest. The national interests are permanent features which include, among others, sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and economic prosperity. Foreign policy, hence, is basically marked by continuity, which does not generally change with the change of governments and regimes. However, the approach and priorities in handling foreign policy sometimes change depending upon the domestic compulsion, regional and international developments and context. Individuals, too, sometimes make a difference in foreign policy and diplomacy. It depends upon the individual leader’s ability, competence, attitude and commitment. Nepal’s foreign policy has been marked by continuity and occasional change depending upon the domestic context and international environment. Nepal’s foreign policy goal has always been guided by its national interest, which primarily is its survival. Presently, our constitution has...

Yuba Nath Lamsal:----- With the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) securing almost two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, the party’s senior leader, Balen Shah, has assumed the office of prime minister. The new RSP government is now set to implement its commitments expressed in the election manifesto on a priority basis. It has promised to address several issues but its urgent focus seems to be on good governance, the economic sector and foreign policy front around which many other issues revolve. Foreign policy is definitely a key area of governance. Pragmatic and astute handling of foreign policy plays a key role in the success and failure of any government, especially in countries with geopolitical complexities like ours. This is so because foreign policy is the extension of domestic policy and foreign policy conduct is closely linked with several other matters, including national security, economic prosperity and national interests. T...