KATHMANDU, JUNE 21

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has said the government should not play one neighbour against another.

In his interaction with former ambassadors here today, Oli said, "We should not show dual character and we should not play any card in our relations with foreign countries. We should not use one neighbour against another," Oli said.

Recently, Oli and other UML leaders had criticised the Sher Bahadur Deuba government for allowing United States Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya to visit a Tibetan refugee camp in Kathmandu.

Oli also said Nepal should not be used against any neighbour and Nepal relations with neighbours should be reliable and credible.

Stating that Nepal had control over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura for 146 years after the Sugauli Treaty, Oli said that demanding return of one's territory was not unfriendliness.

He said Nepal should get Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura back from India, which has been controlling these areas for the last 60 years. "Had there not been political problems, these areas would have been returned to Nepal by now. I had initiated talks on this issue," Oli said. He said the government should clearly put forth its views on boundary issues without any hesitation.

Relations with neighbours cannot remain friendly unless grievances are addressed and the government should hold talks with neighbours to improve relations, he argued.

Stating that previous prime ministers followed the tradition of consulting other parties before embarking on foreign visit, Oli said the Deuba government had abandoned the tradition of consulting other parties. He said the government should conduct foreign relations to protect national interests and it should not make foreign policy a tool for retaining power.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.