KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed the recent reports of Nepalese individuals joining Wagner, a Russian security group known for recruiting mercenaries.

Videos of Nepalis enlisting in the Russian army surfaced on various social media platforms such as Telegram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

In light of this concerning development, the Foreign Ministry has issued a warning, emphasizing the potential dangers and difficulties these individuals may face if they engage in such activities.

The ministry urges all citizens to be cautious and mindful of the risks associated with involvement in foreign military activities. They have also emphasized the challenges that may arise during any potential rescue operations in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry clarified the government’s stance on the matter.

While the Nepalese government has traditionally allowed citizens to join the national armies of certain friendly countries under established agreements, it does not have a policy permitting Nepali citizens to enlist in other foreign armies.

“The government of Nepal explicitly states that it does not have a policy in place to authorize Nepali citizens to join foreign armies, except for instances where Nepali citizens are recruited into the national armies of some friendly countries based on established agreements,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It further emphasized that citizens are strongly discouraged from seeking employment in security-related roles in conflict-ridden nations.