Weeks after saying that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the United States was “expected”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the visit has yet to be confirmed.

Earlier on July 3, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sewa Lamsal had said that “Deuba’s US visit is expected and discussions are going on about.”

“Earlier we were discussing a particular date for the prime minister’s visit,” Lamsal said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing. “Now a new date will be announced once two sides agree on it. We can’t announce the date until it is mutually convenient for both sides.”

Initially Deuba was supposed to travel to Washington in mid-July. The government, however, had not made any official announcement to this effect.

Then a row over Nepal’s participation in the United States government’s State Partnership Program created confusion and uncertainties loomed over the proposed visit.

Parties across the political spectrum have called for terminating Nepal’s participation in the SPP. A Cabinet meeting on June 21 even decided not to be part of the SPP. The government has written to the Foreign Ministry about its June 21 decision, but the ministry has yet to write to the US government about it.

The ministry said on Wednesday that it is studying the matter.

“We are studying the various aspects of the SPP. We have received some facts and evidence that Nepal has already received some assistance under the program. We are also studying in what areas, including disaster management, the assistance was received,” said Lamsal.