Diplomatic Briefing by the Rt. Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki, Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, to the Diplomatic Corp in Kathmandu

Excellencies, Heads of Missions and Representatives of the Diplomatic Community and Development Partners in Kathmandu

Namaskar and Good Afternoon!

1. It is a great pleasure to meet you here in the hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today as Kathmandu enjoys the return of clear skies and pleasant weather.

2. I have had the opportunity to meet many of you in different settings before, but this is the first time we are meeting together in this collective format.

3. We meet at a moment of profound political change in Nepal, following the unprecedented Generation Z (Gen-Z) movement last month.

4. The Gen-Z movement emerged as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to listen, respond, reform and deliver. It also reflects people’s profound aspiration for good governance, economic opportunity and integrity in public life. While our achievements since the adoption of the new constitution are modest, this movement has warned us that there is no room for complacency. We must rededicate ourselves to deliver to our people for their legitimate aspirations.

5. Since the formation of this government just last month, we have uncovered not only the massive challenges of corruption and misrules in our systems but also the immense potential for reform. This is indeed the moment to rebuild trust, strengthen institutions and steer governance toward greater transparency and better public service.

6. The movement was driven by the demand for transparency and accountability. It ended with the dissolution of the government and resulted in the huge loss of lives, injuries, and damage to both public and private property.

7. Following the resignation of the former Prime Minister, a new Interim Government was formed under my leadership on 12 September 2025, followed by the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

8. The revolution came with a force and spontaneity that took many by surprise. When I was called upon to lead in those uncertain times, it was not a position I sought, but a responsibility I accepted with a deep sense of duty to my country. 

9. This non-political, transitional government has one sole and non-negotiable mandate: to hold free, fair, and impartial general elections to the House of Representatives on March 5, 2026.

10. We are committed to a maximum six-month term, after which we will peacefully hand over power to a democratically elected government.

Excellencies,

11.  We are not here to pursue a political agenda, but to pave the way for a new, legitimate one. Our priority is internal stability, and we will serve as a neutral buffer that guarantees a predictable and secure environment for the democratic process.

12.  Multiparty democracy is the cornerstone of our political system. Adherence to democratic norms and values is the only viable path forward.

13. The government is fully engaged in all preparatory works. Our entire focus and the state's resources are being directed toward creating the necessary conditions—security, legal frameworks, and logistical preparation—for a credible election. We are empowering the Election Commission, improving security, and holding dialogues with all political parties and stakeholders, including the Gen-Z representatives.

14. We are also exploring the possibility of an external voting system to progressively realize the principle of universal suffrage for Nepali nationals temporarily living abroad.

15.  As in previous elections, international observation will continue to play an important role in upholding the transparency and credibility of this historic democratic exercise. We deeply appreciate your continued goodwill and support in this journey.

16.  I personally place my great hope in ‘generation-z’ whose energy and political awareness have brought a new scenario to our political landscape. I urge them to engage constructively in the democratic process, as the future of Nepal truly rests in their hands. 

17.  We also expect political parties to constructively engage with this new generation.

Excellencies,

18.  My government embodies the people’s overwhelming demand for integrity and the rule of law. We are determined to set the highest possible benchmark in governance performance, aiming to demonstrate that the government can indeed deliver efficiently, transparently, and responsively.

19.  We are taking immediate steps to ensure accountability for the past and present.

20.  We have constituted a Judicial Inquiry Commission with a clear mandate to ascertain facts and examine underlying causes of the recent violence. Furthermore, we are taking immediate steps to launch credible, impartial investigations into allegations of high-profile corruption, demonstrating that no one is above the law.
21.  We have given new energy to Hello Sarkar, a public complaint system, to improve service delivery and responsiveness.

22.  We have revised the national budget to promote transparency and close avenues for misuse of public funds and have opened files to prosecute entrenched corruption.

23.  We have carried out a series of policy reforms to boost the private sector, recognizing it as the key engine of economic growth and job creation.

24.  These steps are just the beginning. Economic and political reforms are not just the demands of the Gen-Z, but the aspirations of every Nepali citizen.

Excellencies,

25. Our foreign policy continues to be guided by the Charter of the United Nations, non-alignment, principles of Panchsheel, international law and norms of world peace.

26. We are proud to be the largest troop contributing country for the UN peacekeeping operations, a modest but meaningful contribution to global peace.

27.  While focusing on elections, we must also manage the immediate post-crisis economic recovery.

28.  We appreciate international support to restore business confidence, and to address the consequences of the infrastructure damage, and ensure the basic functioning of essential public services until the new government takes office.

29. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged during the movement are urgent. We have established a Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund. Furthermore, devastating monsoon floods and landslides this month show Nepal’s growing vulnerability to climate change. We certainly appreciate support from our development partners in these areas.

30.  In many places the people themselves have come forward to help repair the damaged police posts. We are also urgently retrieving arms and equipment lost or stolen during the revolution.

31.  The recent unrest and subsequent global attention have created immediate economic pressures, particularly vital remittance flows which may be impacted due to tightened visa regulations in some destination countries. We look forward to continued diplomatic engagements to ease it and to enhance labor diplomacy to protect the livelihoods of our migrant workers and ensure the stability of the Nepali economy.

32.  Nepal stands at a critical juncture as we prepare to graduate from the LDC status next year. The road ahead may be difficult, but we are determined to make our graduation smooth, irreversible, and sustainable.

33.  The situation in Nepal is gradually returning to normalcy, a testament to the resilience of our people. We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing this positive message with the wider international community.

34.  Excellencies, we deeply appreciate the understanding, cooperation, and friendship that your governments and missions have consistently extended toward Nepal and the Nepali people.

35.  I wish each of you and your families peace, good health, and happiness during our ongoing festive season and beyond.

Thank you.