Two different briefings by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa to the Kathmandu-based diplomatic community in as many days on similar issues have laid bare the lack of coordination and “subtle competition” between Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
DPM Thapa was conspicuously absent from PM Oli’s briefing on Thursday.
DPM Thapa was not informed as far as I know, Mohan Shrestha, public relations officer of DPM Thapa, said. Other five DPMs, however, were present during PM Oli’s briefing to the diplomatic community in Baluwatar.
It is customary to have the foreign minister alongside the head of government when the latter holds a collective meeting, such as Thursday’s.
Sources close to DPM Thapa claimed that the Foreign Ministry through its channel had communicated to the PMO that it was not a wise move to hold such a briefing within such a short span of time by PM and DPM on issues of similar nature.
But brushing aside the suggestion, the PMO instead instructed MoFA to send invitation to the diplomatic community. The content of the briefing was same and it was just a waste of time, said another official.
Sources say differences between PM Oli and DPM Thapa started to emerge after Thapa began efforts—using track two approach—to reach out to the Indian political leadership to defuse tension in the Tarai.
Thapa and Oli were also at odds over sending Law Minister Agni Kharel to China along with DPM Thapa during his official visit and four-month extension given to Nepali Ambassador to China Mahesh Maskey. But Foreign Secretary Shanaker Das Bairagi and PM Oli’s Senior Foreign Relations Expert Gopal Khanal downplayed the matter, saying focus of the briefings was different in nature.
PM Oli as the chair of the National Reconstruction Authority apprised the international community of reconstruction process while DPM Thapa had different contents to discuss, said Foreign Secretary Bairagi, claiming that there is no conflict between PMO and MoFA.
Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets.
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