Kathmandu, November 13 (H.S.): India has granted diplomatic clearance, or agrément, to Dr Nischal Nath Pandey, nominated by Nepal as its next ambassador to India, paving the way for his formal appointment. The Nepal government had forwarded the names of its proposed ambassadors to the respective countries for agrément after the Parliamentary Hearing Committee approved their nominations.

According to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the names of 10 proposed ambassadors had been sent to the respective countries for agrément, and three countries had conveyed their approval by Friday. The Parliamentary Hearing Committee had endorsed Dr Nischal Nath Pandey for India, Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma for China and Suresh Kumar Karn for Israel.

With the respective countries having granted agrément, the way is now clear for the formal appointment of all three nominees as ambassadors. They will assume their respective diplomatic assignments after the President completes the formal appointment process. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, their appointments are likely to be finalised by Monday.

The proposed date of the Nepal Prime Minister's visit to India is also approaching. In view of the preparations for the visit and the need for diplomatic coordination, the appointment of Nepal's ambassador to India is considered particularly important. Accordingly, the government is preparing to expedite Pandey's appointment following India's approval.

Agrément for the proposed ambassadors to seven other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, is still awaited.

Agrément is the formal diplomatic consent granted by a host country before another country officially appoints a proposed individual as its ambassador. It is a necessary step in the diplomatic appointment process.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar