KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Balendra Shah has not yet visited the Nepal Army Headquarters nearly two months after taking office, even though the Chief of Army Staff had extended a formal invitation.
An early engagement that is usually considered a routine part of civil-military coordination in Nepal.
Since assuming office on March 27, Prime Minister Balen who also holds the Home and Defence portfolios has remained absent from parliament proceedings, where lawmakers have repeatedly sought his presence for dialogue.
His absence is being increasingly felt inside the House and in parliamentary committees as well, particularly those dealing with security and governance where ministerial briefings are a regular expectation.
The concern, officials point out is not just parliamentary participation but also the Prime Minister’s role as Defence Minister. In that capacity, he is the principal civilian authority overseeing the Nepal Army, an institution that is directly involved not only in national security but also in disaster response, infrastructure support, environmental conservation and UN peacekeeping operations.
Traditionally, newly appointed prime ministers make an early visit to the Army Headquarters to receive briefings from the military leadership. It is seen as part of the initial institutional handshaking between the government and the security establishment where operational updates and priority areas are shared.
In this case, however, although the Nepal Army has already extended an invitation, there has been no confirmation from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers regarding the schedule of the visit.
Nearly two months have passed since the government was formed but the customary briefing has not taken place. During such meetings, the Army provides updates on ongoing operations, future plans and its wider national role beyond security duties. It is also an opportunity for the Defence Minister to align priorities and understand institutional requirements directly from the leadership of the force.
Since the formation of the current government, that channel of direct engagement has not yet opened at the top level.
Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet said the institution remains confident that the Prime Minister will visit the Army Headquarters at a “convenient time.”
In government circles, the delay is being seen as a departure from established practice where successive prime ministers have prioritised early interaction with the military leadership soon after taking office.
