Retd. General Sharma appointed new Foreign Minister of Nepal

Kathmandu: Interim Prime Minister Sushil Karki has appointed former Nepal Army Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma as the country's new Foreign Minister.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered Mr Sharma oath of office and secrecy at Shital Niwas on Friday.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Karki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions, security chiefs and heads of constitutional bodies.

Former Nepali Army lieutenant general Sharma played a key role in the integration of Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army.

After the then CPN (Maoist) joined the peace process in 2006, he served as coordinator of the technical committee on army integration.

He served nearly 39 years in the Nepali Army, holding leadership roles at various levels, and was deployed in international peacekeeping missions for nearly four years.

Sharma also served as the chief of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) during the pandemic.

General Sharma is expected to deal with Nepal’s giant neighbours, India and China, as well as the international community to garner their support as the Himalayan nation is heading towards the midterm elections slated on 5^th March 2026.