PM Karki holds telephone talks with Qatari counterpart, discuss Nepalis' security

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation today with her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al‑Thani. She expressed concern over recent developments in the Middle East and thanked Qatar for providing security and protection to the 360,000 Nepali nationals in the country, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat stated.

During the call, Karki thanked the Qatari Prime Minister, Thani, on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Nepali people.

The Prime Minister said that Nepal is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and conveyed Nepal’s position that all relevant parties should exercise restraint, avoid escalating the conflict further, and ensure the safety of civilians.

She stated that Nepal emphasises that all nations should duly respect and adhere to the United Nations Charter, international law, the Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law.

Noting that war or conflict is never an alternative to peace, the Prime Minister argued that talks and diplomatic means will lead to the establishment of durable peace.

Karki expressed her hope that bilateral ties between the two nations would further grow through upcoming high‑level visits, socio‑economic cooperation and people‑to‑people relations.

The Prime Minister also expressed serious concern over the latest developments in Qatar and the assault on Qatar’s sovereign territory, primarily in non‑military areas, and said she hoped Qatar would be able to withstand the situation while demonstrating its constructive role.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thani, praised the cordial, deep and friendly relations between Nepal and Qatar.