This is the first solo visit to Nepal by a US Assistant Secretary of State. Previously, such high-ranking officials often combined their visits to Nepal with visits to other South Asian countries.
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US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Sameer Paul Kapoor, who arrived in Kathmandu on Monday for a 3-day visit to Nepal, has begun meetings with political party leaders and government officials. He is the highest-ranking foreign diplomat to visit Kathmandu since senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Balendra Shah became Prime Minister on Chaitra 13.
Immediately after landing in Kathmandu, Kapoor reached the US Embassy in Kathmandu and received a briefing from officials. He then met with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Ravi Lamichhane. However, Washington has not made Kapoor's visit, meetings and programs public. The US Embassy in Kathmandu has confirmed the visit through social media X. 'The US Assistant Secretary of State aims to further strengthen the US-Nepal partnership by meeting with senior government officials, businessmen and cultural experts,' the embassy said.
After meeting Lamichhane, Kapoor wrote in X, 'It was a pleasure to meet with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Lamichhane in Kathmandu to understand the priorities of the new government and discuss potential areas of US-Nepal cooperation.'
This is the first solo visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State to Nepal. Previously, such high-ranking officials often linked their visits to Nepal with other South Asian countries.
After meeting with officials of the American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal, Kapoor wrote, 'Important discussions were held with industrialists on expanding US investment and opportunities in Nepal's ICT sector. Digital infrastructure, AI use, cybersecurity and US technology partnerships were also discussed.'
Kapoor is discussing ICT, AI and cyber security with the US Chamber of Commerce on Monday. Unlike previous officials, Kapoor will not meet Prime Minister Shah this time. In previous visits, US officials used to meet the Prime Minister. "There has been no proposal from the US side to meet the Prime Minister, so the meeting has not been scheduled," said a foreign ministry official. "They have not even informed the ministry of the agenda of the visit."
Kapoor is scheduled to meet Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, and officials of the Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday, a government official said. "They have not given any clear agenda," the official said. "We have taken this as an introductory visit, where we will put forward our priorities and they will inform us about the priorities of the Trump administration." According to officials, Kapoor will listen to the priorities of the Nepal government and convey how Washington can help. He is also scheduled to visit the Patan Durbar Square.
Before Nepal's Falgun elections, Kapoor had expressed confidence that the elections would be peaceful and said that the US would cooperate with whichever government came to power. New Delhi is also closely watching his visit to Kathmandu. Indian foreign policy expert SD Munil wrote in X, 'The US does not want China or any other country to dominate Nepal.' In the early stages of the Cold War, the US tried to balance India in Nepal.'
