In the shadow of escalating US-Iran hostilities, Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki held urgent talks with her Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, to safeguard the lives of nearly 358,000 Nepali expatriates in Qatar. The conversation, which took place on Thursday, underscored Kathmandu’s deep concerns over the safety of its citizens amid reports of civilian infrastructure damage across Gulf nations from joint US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile attacks.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry reports that Qatar hosts the third-largest Nepali diaspora after the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with most being migrant laborers fueling the Gulf’s construction boom. Across 12 regional countries, over 1.7 million Nepalis reside, their security now a pressing issue as tensions ripple through the Middle East.
During the telephonic discussion, Karki expressed profound gratitude to Doha for ensuring the protection of Nepali workers. ‘I am relieved to hear they are safe and well-cared for,’ she stated, as per a release from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. However, she highlighted the mounting pressures on Qatar, home to the region’s largest US military base, targeted in Iranian strikes.
Karki emphasized Kathmandu’s close monitoring of West Asian developments, urging all parties to exercise restraint, prevent further escalation, and prioritize civilian safety. She called for adherence to the UN Charter, international law, Geneva Conventions, and humanitarian principles, insisting that war cannot replace peace—only dialogue and diplomacy can achieve lasting stability.
Expressing solidarity with Qatar, Karki voiced alarm over attacks on its sovereign, non-military territories. The leaders also explored avenues to bolster bilateral ties through high-level visits, enhanced economic and cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections.
Qatar’s Prime Minister praised the friendly relations between the nations, acknowledging Nepali contributions to his country’s growth. He assured equal protection for Nepalis as Qatari citizens amid the crisis, describing regional events as unfortunate and affirming Doha’s commitment to peace, sovereignty, and self-defense.