Kathmandu, May 22 -- For the first time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is drafting country strategy papers to guide its engagements with key bilateral partners.

Until now, the ministry has largely relied on generic country briefs that merely outlined the status of bilateral relations rather than providing comprehensive, forward-looking strategic guidance.

After assuming office, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal instructed senior ministry officials to develop strategy documents to ensure a more nuanced and professional approach to foreign policy implementation.

Each paper will map out a partner country's core priorities regarding Nepal-spanning foreign policy, strategic interests, trade, military cooperation, security, people-to-people t...