A half-day in-person policy dialogue titled “Nepal at a Crossroads: Pre-Election Politics, Geopolitics, and the Way Forward” was held at Hotel Badrinath in Kathmandu on Friday, bringing together policymakers, academics, think tank experts, diplomats, civil society representatives, media professionals, and youth scholars. A total of 127 participants attended the event.
The program was jointly organized by the Friends of Silk Road Club in collaboration with the Foundation for Trans-Himalayan Research and Studies and the Nepal-China Himalayan Friendship Society.
The session was chaired by Mr. Rinan Pokharel, General Secretary of the Nepal-China Himalayan Friendship Society. In his opening remarks, he underscored the importance of timely and non-partisan policy engagement during the pre-election period. He noted that elections represent not only a democratic exercise but also a period of heightened vulnerability and opportunity for a country navigating internal political uncertainty and increasing geopolitical interest. He emphasized the responsibility of think tanks to foster informed debate and strategic clarity ahead of electoral decision-making.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Ananda Pokharel, Chairman of FOUNTAINS, former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and senior leader of the CPN-UML. He observed that Nepal’s current pre-election environment reflects accumulated public frustration stemming from political instability, frequent changes in government, and weak governance outcomes.
Describing the upcoming elections as a critical test of democratic credibility and national strategic autonomy, he stressed that political leadership must demonstrate clarity of national interest and institutional responsibility. In the context of growing regional and global power competition, he argued, safeguarding Nepal’s sovereignty and long-term interests requires consistent and strategic policymaking.
Speakers at the dialogue emphasized the need for political stability, good governance, and a balanced foreign policy approach. They noted that policy-driven discourse and coordinated national strategy are essential for guiding Nepal through its current political and geopolitical crossroads.