By Shashi P.B.B. Malla Domestic Determinants Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba – who was called “incompetent” by HM King Gyanendra – managed by hook and by crook to be appointed prime minister for a fifth term against all odds. It was all legal and constitutional. However, the political mafia that has infested the ‘Himalayan Federal Democratic Republic” [HFDR] and vested foreign interests coming from a southerly direction has prevented the ‘Government of Nepal [GooN] from becoming functional. Poor Deuba had had his hands completely tied up and can neither move forward nor back. The ‘Tiger of Dadeldhura’ has been reduced to a tame house cat, or to use the famous words of “The Great Helmsman” or Mao Zedong a mere ‘paper tiger’! The main culprits in this rogue gallery are a bunch of Communist Comrades – all past their prime and bereft of any utility to society at large, but still squabbling like good Communists on the finer points of ideology and the stage of socialist revolution the country has attained. In reality, they are more like puppets being manipulated from afar by foreign puppet-masters. They are all known by their various nomes de guerre: “Makune”, “Oily” and “Prachande”. Together with their legal henchmen, they have brought the country to a complete standstill – politically speaking. Because of trumped-up legal constraints, appointed ministers cannot take the oath of office, and those that have haven been reduced to zombies! In the meantime, these ‘gasbags’ or ‘windbags’ [take your choice] continue to talk nonsense and muddy the waters! Fresh Wind in Foreign Affairs It was, therefore, very refreshing that Deuba could gird up his loins and appoint the Honourable Shri Dr. Narayan Khadga as foreign minister of GooN [but his legal status is contested!]. The said Dr. Khadga for once held his head high [which like his Nepali Congress comrades was previously buried in the sand] and delivered a tour de force of Nepal’s place in the world at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly at New York, New York. [An Aside: It is remarkable that such a significant contribution to the annals of foreign relations was completely ignored by the Nepali print and electronic media, as well as the entire Nepali intelligentsia, including the foreign policy gurus and pandits, and the chatterazzi of YouTube and Facebook.] Need for More, Not Less Multilateralism GooN’s foreign minister highlighted the fact that the theme of UNGA’s General Debate “Building Resilience through Hope” was both timely and pertinent [which also called attention to the circumstance that Khadga’s speech-writer was timely, apposite, well-versed and well-read, and above all succinct – an exception at MoFA?]. Khadga stressed that reviving hope was critical in times of crisis. Nepal appreciated the efforts made by the international community including the United Nations system in addressing the acute problems – domestic, regional and international – created by Covid-19, respecting the rights of people, and revitalizing the United Nations. Thus, recovering from Covid-19, rebuilding sustainability, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of the people, and revitalizing the United Nations are the pressing priorities, challenges, and needs. The Pandemic & After Unfortunately, Nepal itself and most other countries have not come up to the mark in this respect. In the multilateral and multi-dimensional game of chess, the Nepali stakeholders have somehow managed to stalemate each other! In addition, domestic constraints have severely hampered the pursuit of foreign policy goals [as in most countries, including India and the U.S.]. The point is that fair and equitable access to vaccines has not been ensured for everyone, everywhere – adding weight to the adage: no one is safe until everyone is safe. Unfortunately, deepening vaccine inequality is leaving adverse socio-economic impacts in many low-income countries. In Nepal, despite Khadga’s high-minded words, GooN did not do enough in saving lives, strengthening the health system, and pursuing economic recovery and transformation. Building a sustainable recovery has not been in the cards. The so-called leaders are too busy jockeying for power.  Khadga didn’t, of course, mention that despite a chaotic and self-dealing response by the Oily government, Nepal managed somehow [hopefully] to come out of the pandemic bruised, but largely intact. May Lord Pashupati Nath Bless Us! Climate Change The foreign minister rightly pointed out that Nepal is at the sharp end of climate change despite its negligible share in greenhouse gas emissions. He reiterated Nepal’s commitment to delivering resilient pathways by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. He was hopeful that Glasgow COP 26 would provide a breakthrough in climate negotiations. He expected that the climate ambition of developing countries would be met with easier access to adequate financial and technological support for adaption and mitigation. This would be a gateway to greener, cleaner and smarter energy transition. But this is easier said and done. Deuba is still struggling to put together his cabinet, the prospective members of which are all making outlandish demands. Climate change is the least of their worries. How long are the Nepali people going to tolerate the shenanigans of these petty and power-hungry politicians and self-appointed power brokers? Upendra Yadav is demanding the slot of deputy prime minister as the supreme price for supporting Deuba, and scurrilous Prachande has threatened with re-igniting the infamous “People’s War”. How he intends to do this with 15 and more ubiquitous government bodyguards accompanying him everywhere, around the clock is anybody’s guess. Unfortunately, his ill-gotten riches are not encompassed in the “Pandora Papers”. Nepal & the “New Cold War” Nepal’s top diplomat also stated the obvious – that we live in troubled times. There has been a dramatic shift in geopolitics and geo-economics in the post-Cold War era posing unprecedented challenges on all fronts. The world’s economic centre of gravity was shifting decisively towards Asia, centred to a great extent on the economic growth of China and India – the world’s two largest populated countries. One can even speak of the ‘clash of two great Asian civilizations'. At the same time, the world is becoming more complicated and polarized, with transnational challenges ranging from terrorism to climate change to food security, migration to political radicalism and extremism. Shri Khadga mentioned the doctrine of non-alignment only in passing. For Nepal, it has again become of great relevance. It will have to practice this on the regional level vis-à-vis India and China. He studiously avoided mentioning the stellar contribution of the Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah, but there is absolutely no doubt that Nepal will have to tread the unwavering path of equidistance between Beijing and New Delhi. At the international level, the United States clearly sees the other world power China as the primary antagonist. It is challenging China in its own backyard – the South China Sea. Biden has initiated a pincer movement to strategically contain the Middle Kingdom. First, there is the Indo-Pacific Strategy of which the quasi-alliance of the Quad [US, Australia and Japan] is an integral part. Then, there is the recent full triple alliance of AUKUS [Australia, UK and US]. This is the beginning of the New Cold War. The Western Powers and their quasi Asian allies – Japan and India – are completely mistaken to assume that China will take all this lying down. One cannot uphold the sanctity of the ‘One China’ principle on the one hand, and then openly choose to undermine it with the other – a blatant geopolitical contradiction! Nepal has to double down on its policy of non-alignment also at the international level. Our true foreign policy must be to steer clear of permanent and entangling alliances. Conflict Regions: Afghanistan & Myanmar From a dysfunctional government, we were able to hear the first statements on conflict regions. Khadga said unabashedly that recent developments in Afghanistan are of common concern to all of us. After all, Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The state of democracy [however weak it may have been] and the human rights situation have to be acutely considered. As the chair of SAARC, Nepal has great responsibilities, but its inherent domestic infirmity has paralysed it on the external front. Why has a Jung Bahadur or a King Mahendra not emerged on the scene?  On behalf of Nepal, Khadga officially called for unhindered humanitarian access and the resumption of public services, including health and education for all sections of Afghan society. As regards Myanmar, Nepal called on all concerned parties to respect the will of the people, restore the democratic and constitutional process, and uphold the fundamental freedom of the Myanmar people. As the next-door neighbour to SAARC, Nepal should have been active here too. Nepal & UN Peace Keeping Shri Khadga very correctly noted that for over 63 years, Nepal has consistently contributed to the UN Peace Keeping Operations to promote peace, security and stability in the conflict-ridden parts of the world. Nepal has now risen to one of the largest troop and police-contributing countries. In fact, as of August 31, 2021, Nepal ranks third in the world – after Bangladesh and India -- among countries contributing ‘Experts on Mission, Formed Police Units, Individual Police Officers, Staff Officers and Troops’. Taking into consideration the huge populations of India and Bangladesh, their per capita contribution is a drop in the ocean. He also pointed out the huge discrepancy in the appointment of senior positions in the field and at UN HQ in New York as compared to troop and police contributions. Nepal has been serving long enough and has accumulated more expertise than many of the officers from developed countries, and, therefore deserve more senior-level positions. United Nations & Multilateralism Shri Khadga recapitulated that Nepal firmly believes in the indispensability of multilateralism with the United Nations at the centre. This has been amply demonstrated by its involvement in UN Peace Keeping Operations. Nepal firmly believes that this is the only way to build global understanding, strengthen cooperation, promote shared interests, and secure our common future. And this is reflected in its bilateral and multilateral relations. To make the United Nations system much more effective, it supports measures and initiatives aimed at UN reforms. A major aspect is that the under-representation of developing countries must be addressed in recognition of their growing contributions, not least UN peace-keeping. In this connection, Nepal wanted to see a more representative, inclusive and transparent Security Council and a more revitalized General Assembly. Any reforms must be inclusive, accountable, and effective in their delivery. It is indeed very remarkable, but what Nepal’s first elected prime minister, the late B.P. Koirala said more than 60 years ago while also addressing the UN General Assembly in 1960 still has relevance today:            “As we look at the world, we find that it is the economic disparity between countries, as between the rich and the poor people within the nation, that is the source of much friction and tension…The main function of the United Nations at the present moment is the creation or re-creation of a climate of confidence and trust.” The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com