ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of life in Nepal’s recent political unrest and voiced hope that the Himalayan nation will move toward harmony and “renewed hope” in the days ahead.
The statement came as soldiers guarded Nepal’s parliament and patrolled deserted streets of the capital Katmandu under curfew after two days of deadly anti-corruption protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.
The turmoil, ignited by a social-media ban announced last week, has left at least 25 people dead and more than 600 injured, with demonstrators torching the homes of senior ministers.
The army has warned that any “vandalism, looting, arson and attacks on individuals and property in the name of protest will be considered punishable crimes.”
“Pakistan is deeply grieved at the loss of precious lives in Nepal,” the foreign office said in a statement circulated in Islamabad late Wednesday. “We convey condolences to the bereaved families and offer prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”
“We trust that the resilience of the Nepalese people will shape a future marked by harmony and renewed hope,” the statement added.
Pakistan and Nepal have maintained friendly ties since establishing diplomatic relations in 1960. Both are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and often coordinate on regional trade and climate issues.
Bilateral trade remains small, focused on Pakistani textiles, pharmaceuticals and carpets and Nepali tea, cardamom and herbs, while the two countries have encouraged chambers of commerce to expand links in pharmaceuticals, surgical goods and tourism.
The political upheaval in Nepal, driven largely by young demonstrators and dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” is the second youth-led uprising in South Asia after student demonstrations in Bangladesh toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government last year and altered that country’s regional priorities.
