KATHMANDU: Proposed Ambassador to the United States Shri Dhar Khatri has said that Nepali and US officials have spread confusion about the grant assistance Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Offering his view on MCC during the parliamentary hearing on Monday, Khatri suggested that the Nepal should form an official stance on MCC and convey the same to the US. He was of the view that US should be told clearly whether Nepal wants MCC or not.

“The MCC seems to be embroiled in internal disputes. Nepal should state clearly whether it wants to take it or not,” he said, adding, “The USA should be informed openly.”

Dr. Khatri alleged that some officials from Nepal and USA caused the confusion by making some contradictory remarks.

“The US Assistant Secretary of Defense’s remark that MCC is under Indo-Pacific Strategy caused some confusions,” he said, adding that there had been some errors on Nepal’s part as well.

Khatri also reminded that at the proposal of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, that the mega grant project like MCC were to be passed by the parliament.

Opining that if MCC has to be passed from the parliament, BRI might also need similar ratification, Dr. Khatri added that it was not right make provisions to pass large investments and foreign aid from the parliament.

He stressed on the need to clarify Nepal’s commitment on non-alignment principles and remarked that USA should consider Nepal’s geographical location between India and China.