Kathmandu — Former Nepali Army Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma has been recommended for appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has formally recommended Sharma’s name to President Ram Chandra Poudel for the ministerial position. The President’s Office has confirmed receipt of the recommendation.
According to the President’s Secretariat, Sharma is scheduled to take the oath of office at 2 pm on Friday.
Sources at Baluwatar said the decision to appoint Sharma was finalized earlier, citing his extensive experience in national security affairs and Nepal’s peace process. “It has been decided to appoint Sharma as the Foreign Minister,” a source said.
Sharma served in the Nepali Army for nearly 39 years, holding leadership responsibilities at multiple command levels. He was also deployed for about four years in international peacekeeping missions, where he gained experience in multilateral coordination and diplomatic engagement.
Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Sharma played a central role in the integration of former Maoist combatants into the Nepali Army. He served as the coordinator of the Army Integration Technical Committee, a key body established after the then CPN (Maoist) entered the peace process.
Political observers say Sharma’s appointment is likely to bring a security- and peace-process-oriented approach to Nepal’s foreign policy at a time when the country is navigating sensitive regional and international diplomatic challenges.
