KATHMANDU:- Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has informed Parliament that 131 Nepalis recruited into the Russian army have died. Minister Khanal clarified that it is not the government’s policy to grant permission for enlistment in foreign armies other than those with which traditional agreements exist.
Responding to questions raised by lawmakers during Tuesday’s session of the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal stated, “So far, 131 Nepalis recruited into the Russian army have died, 95 are missing, and 9 are being held captive in Ukraine.”
Minister Khanal stated that a formal request has been made to the Russian government to provide compensation to the families of the deceased and to halt the recruitment of Nepalis into the army. The ministry plans to conduct programs such as the Lumbini Fellowship, the International Dialogue Series, and the Sagarmatha Dialogue to expand Nepal’s ‘soft power’.
Similarly, Minister Khanal stated that a separate budget has been allocated for the first time to rescue Nepalis stranded abroad. Speaking about relations with neighboring countries, he clarified that the government is committed to resolving the border dispute with India through diplomatic dialogue based on historical treaties, agreements, and maps.