Former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey on Monday said the differences and polarisation among political parties regarding Nepal’s foreign relations are unfortunate.

“The differences among parties regarding relations with neighbours and the United States is unfortunate and it will lead to a disaster,” said Pandey while talking to a group of foreign affairs journalists in Kathmandu.

“The equidistance policy with India and China has increased our diplomatic distance with both the neighbours. So, we instead need to adopt a policy of equi-proximity towards them and win their trust.”

He said that Nepal is failing to conduct mature foreign relations by creating a governing mechanism that is always vigilant to the fact that the country is on the strategic radar of India, China and the United States.

Pandey also said that both the neighbours have started to doubt Nepal’s ability to prevent pressure and conspiracies from third parties.

He was of the view that the trend of Nepali youths leaving the country in ever-increasing numbers was a security threat to the country.