As India and Pakistan trade fire for a second day, Nepal has called for de-escalation as a measure towards peace.

Amid growing calls to clarify its stand on terrorism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a statement. “Nepal is deeply concerned about the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, following the terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, India on April 23 in which a Nepali national also had lost his precious life,” it said.

After the attack, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attack.

Oli had also reiterated Nepal’s solidarity with India against such acts in the telephonic conversation with Modi.

“During this tragic period, Nepal and India stood in solidarity, united in shared grief and suffering. It may be recalled that Nepal had immediately and unequivocally condemned the barbaric terrorist attack, consistent with its resolute stance against all forms of terrorism,” the foreign ministry stated on Thursday.

In line with its principled position, Nepal shall not allow any inimical forces to use its soil against its neighbouring countries, the ministry added. Nepal hoped for de-escalation of tension, and affirmed its commitment to lasting peace and stability in the region.

In retaliation for the killing of 26 innocent people including one Nepali national in India’s Jammu and Kashmir last month, Indian armed forces on Wednesday night launched several airstrikes on nine “terrorist infrastructures” inside Pakistan. The Pakistani army also fired missiles in response and vowed to retaliate against the Indian attack.

With tensions in the region growing, Prime Minister Oli chaired a meeting of the National Security Council while Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak convened a meeting of the national security committee on Wednesday. The meetings decided to step up surveillance and maintain a high level of vigilance in sensitive areas such as the Nepal-India border and airports in order to prevent any unwanted activities.

At the political level, reactions continue to pour in from parties, lawmakers and leaders. Some members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday and Thursday spoke on the escalating military situation and asked the Nepal government to make its position public.

However, two senior leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre) have expressed somewhat different views on the developments between India and Pakistan.

Senior Nepali Congress leader and former minister Bimalendra Nidhi congratulated India on successfully conducting the “Operation Sindoor” against terrorist groups. It was a natural response to the killing of 26 innocent tourists including one Nepali national for no reason, Nidhi wrote on the social media platform X. “We are with India in the fight against terrorism,” Nidhi remarked, openly supporting India.

But there seems to be division in the main opposition, CPN (Maoist Centre).

Maoist Centre General Secretary Dev Gurung and party’s deputy general secretary Janardan Sharma shared differing views on Facebook about the situation.

Gurung stated that India attacking Pakistan by accusing it of involvement in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, cannot be justified.

He said, “It does not appear that there has been an independent confirmation of who carried out the Pahalgam attack. In such a situation, attacking Pakistan based on accusations cannot be justified."

He further stated that military actions should be halted and an independent international investigation conducted into the Pahalgam attack.

“Such military actions must immediately stop, and dialogue should take place between the two countries. An independent international commission should be formed to investigate the Pahalgam killings,” he said, stating that India and Pakistan are both Nepal’s friendly neighbours.

Nepal maintains diplomatic relations with both countries, said Gurung, and conflicts between neighbours affect Nepal as well. In such a situation, Nepal cannot remain silent. Based on the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of Panchsheel, said the Maoist general secretary, Nepal must take a stand for peace, not war. Nepal has a responsibility to fulfil its duty in support of peace, he added.

On the other hand, another Maoist Centre senior leader Sharma said it is the duty of every nation to fight terrorism, and India has launched “Operation Sindoor” against terrorism—the worst threat to human civilisation.

“It is necessary to defeat terrorism through mutual cooperation in order to bring about peace and stability,” said Sharma.

Ram Hari Khatiwada, a Member of Parliament from the Nepali Congress, said all countries should support the fight against terrorism.

Khatiwada stated that current wars such as those between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas, and India and Pakistan put Nepal in a vulnerable position, and urged the government to be prepared to face such challenges.

“We are in an increasingly risky situation due to events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, the current policy of the US President, China’s efforts to unify with Taiwan, and India’s war against terrorism targeting Pakistan,” Khatiwada said. “I would like to urge the government to be prepared to deal with the complexities of this time.”

Maoist Centre lawmaker Mina Tamang said that Nepali Gorkhas should not be used as the first line of defence in any war between India and Pakistan. Thousands of Nepali youths known as Gorkhas are currently serving in the Indian Army.

“Through the Speaker, I would like to draw the government’s attention to initiate dialogue with the Indian government so that Nepali Gorkha soldiers are not used first in a potential war between India and Pakistan,” she said.

Tamang also urged the government to pay attention to the protection and rescue of Nepalis working in India.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Mukta Kumari Yadav drew the government's attention to the ongoing shelling between India and Pakistan, expressing concern that Nepalis in the area could be affected.

Hundreds of thousands Nepali citizens are living and working in different parts of India including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

She also urged the government to take diplomatic initiatives to create a safe environment for bringing those Nepalis to secure locations.

Likewise, an alliance of seven Madhes-based political parties issued a statement, saying their serious attention had been drawn to the terrorist attack carried out in Pahalgam, Kashmir, against a friendly neighbouring country, India.

“We strongly condemn this heinous crime against humanity. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with all forms of struggle and action against terrorism. Furthermore, we urge the government of Nepal to provide compensation, support, and care to the family of [the slain] Nepali citizen Sudip Neupane,” they said in a statement.

Janamat Party chief CK Raut said that no nation should permit the use of its soil against its neighbours. India, by dismantling nine terror camps, has acted decisively, Raut wrote on X, adding that it is a shared global responsibility to prevent such threats and strive for a peaceful world that is free from terror and conflict.

“The retaliatory strike by the army of our friendly nation, India, on the hideouts of terrorists, in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed Sudip Neupane along with 26 innocent people, is a justified and natural step,” said Hridayesh Tripathi of Janata Pragatisheel Party.

Terrorist acts are heinous crimes against humanity, and the entire human race must unite against it, Tripathi added.