KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka and Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Prabhuram Sharma have skipped a parliamentary committee meeting on United States’ State Partnership Program (SPP) and the army chief’s upcoming Australia visit at Singha Durbar.

The State Direction, Principle, Rules and Responsibility Committee of the parliament had invited Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Khadka, Foreign Affairs Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal, Defense Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma, CoAS Sharma and high-ranking army officials for the meeting earlier at 12:15 pm on Monday.

All members of the committee reached the meeting venue on time, expect for CoAS and Foreign Minister.

Committee Chair Niradevi Jairu informed the committee that the Foreign Minister would not be participating in the meeting. “We received the message that the Foreign Minister was pre-occupied with other meetings, and Defense Secretary also said the CoAS will join only if the Foreign Minister is present.”

Because of the absence, the meeting skipped its main agenda and held a discussion on other miscellaneous agendas.

According to Jairu, the committee will schedule its next meeting very soon after confirming the time of the foreign minister and the army chief.