ISLAMABAD: The prime minister congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist guerrilla who led a decade-long insurgency against Nepal’s Hindu monarchy, who on Sunday was appointed prime minister for a third time.
“Heartiest felicitations to […] Kamal Dahal Prachanda on becoming prime minister of Nepal,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet. “I look forward to working with him to further strengthen our bilateral ties and regional cooperation.”
Sharif said the two nations enjoyed cordial relations as regional partners and expressed the desire to work with the leader of Nepal.
Heartiest felicitations to Rt Hon’ble Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on becoming Prime Minister of Nepal. As regional partners, Pakistan & Nepal enjoy cordial relations. I look forward to working with him to further strengthen our bilateral ties & regional cooperation. @cmprachanda
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 26, 2022
Dahal, who still goes by his nom de guerre Prachanda — meaning “terrible” or “fierce” — will head the new government for the first half of the five-year term with the support of the opposition Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and some other smaller groups.
“He has been appointed and commands the support of a big majority of parliament,” Tika Dhakal, an aide to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, told Reuters.
Prachanda, who replaces Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress party, will step down in 2025, making way for the UML to take over the office, local media reported.
Analysts said Prachanda was unlikely to provide the country with stability due to many coalition partners. He also faces serious economic challenges.
Inflation is more than 8 percent, the highest in six years. Nepal, tucked between China and India, also faces dwindling foreign exchange reserves, with an increasing dependence on imports of basic goods.
“It is unlikely for the economy to grow as political instability will spook investment and businesses,” former central bank governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetri told Reuters.
Nepal has seen 10 government changes since 2008 when the 239-year-old monarchy was abolished.
— With Reuters
