The Maoists had asserted that their relations with diplomats would be less formal but more fulfilling, but in practice the new government does not seem too different from the old. Public and private vehicles are still forced to take a detour when our PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal decides to take a drive.

For Dahal's 'informal' visit to China, all the ambassadors were invited to the Tribhuban International Airport to see him off. The absence of Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood was viewed by most as an expression of India's dissatisfaction over China being chosen for the first official visit of the PM. But Sood was not alone in boycotting the event. The British and American ambassadors also chose not to see Dahal off.

"Normally only the ambassador of the concerned country is present at such occasions. It would have been appropriate if others were not invited," a South Asian ambassador told Samaya. Another ambassador asked: "Why is Prachanda behaving like the king?"

The ambassadors and diplomats are also annoyed that much of their time is wasted in waiting. Whether it is formal and informal visits of officials, or the sessions of the interim Parliament and the Constituent Assembly, none start on time. It must be noted that because there was no mechanism for translation in the interim Parliament and still isn't in the CA, it has been impossible for the foreign diplomats to understand the proceedings.