Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat has said the mentality of using relations with the neighbouring countries as a means to getting to power and fulfilling partisan interests would never make nationalism stronger.

Inaugurating a seminar on “enhancing national security through defence and diplomacy’’, organised by the Commandant, Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri on Friday, Mahat said, “For long we have been using the relations with our neighbours as a tool for achieving power and addressing one party’s interests.”

Stating that Nepal attaches special priority to its relations with India and China, the foreign minister said such ties should be further consolidated on the basis of mutual trust.

“Nepal’s relations with China and India have their own special features. Our relations with both of them should be harmonious. Nepal is always making efforts towards that end and positive outcomes are also coming out,” he remarked.

Nepal’s geographical and caste diversities have contributed to the strengthening of national unity and national security, he said, underlining the need for using diplomacy as the base for national defence.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Army Staff Gen Rajendra Chhetri said diplomacy and defence are the pillars of national sovereignty, integrity and independence. College Director Devendra Bahadur Medhasi said a total of 54 people including foreigners are studying in the college that runs classes on military skills.

High ranking officers from the Foreign Ministry, the Home Ministry, Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force and retired officials are attending the seminar.