EDITOR'S NOTE

The   third meeting of Nepal-India joint Working Group on Border Management was held in Kathmandu a few days back. Although the meeting could not arrive at any concrete conclusion, both sides seemed quite serious to finalize modalities for more effective management of the border. In the context of increasing activities of undesirable elements, speedy arrangement to check such activities has become most imperative. Even the air travel between the two countries is feeling the need of better regulation and control. In the aftermath of the hijack of IC 814 India seems much concerned about the security of Indian Airlines and the passengers traveling by them. It is, indeed, quite natural. This is a matter on which no government can afford to be complacent even when there are no exigencies. But, becoming oversensitive too cannot be conducive to maintain the congenial atmosphere. Past experiences must teach us not to initiate or embark upon measures that have the potential of generating misgivings or hurting the relations. Since it is not possible to turn the clock back, we must try to look ahead. We apprehend our leadership may again fail to rise up to the occasion. But we do trust our Indian friends will forbear to take advantage of the situation and contribute to further cement the bi-lateral relations.

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Bill Clinton's proposed visit to India and Bangladesh may have far reaching repercussions on the politics of South Asian region. Even though the U.S. policymakers have threatened that Clinton will bypass Pakistan if the military ruler does not announce a date to go back to democratic dispensation. That they will stick to that decision seems unreal. Pakistan is too important for the United States to be ignored in that manner. Clinton's very purpose of easing tensions in South Asia would be defeated. Pakistan shall have to and it will, absorb the shock of the U.S. President's calculated affront. Since the U.S. cannot be naive to overlook Palistan's clout with the Islamic world, they simply cannot afford to alienate one feuding nation by consorting with the other. They may just be trying to give some tenterhooks to the Pakistanis. South Asia badly needs peace. The smaller nations of South Asia have to bear the brunt of the volatile situation in the region which is much adversely affecting the development of one of poorest regions of the world. And it would not be in the interest of the undisputed super power to aggravate the situation. No student of international relations will believe his eyes and ears that the man mainly responsible to prevent conflagration in any region of the world would be adding fuel to the fire of explosive South Asian situation. As such, nobody needs be surprised if one fine morning one hears that Bill Clinton has decided to visit Pakistan also. That would definitely help Pervez Murharraf to make up his mind to fix atimetable to revert to democratic regime.

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Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has, at last, been able to administer the oath of office to his deputy Ram Chandra Poudel. We think by inducting Poudel into the cabinet, the ailing Bhattarai has tried to ward off the inevitable. How far this will help to rejuvenate the Bhattrarai government will become clear in the days to come. And for how long the Bhattarai henchmen will be able to fend off the Damocle's sword is anybody's guess. But that Poudel, with a comparative cleaner image, has decided to join this cabinet has come as a surprise to us. Since, he has to assert as the defacto prime minister, how will Poudel conduct himself is becoming a matter of great interest and curiosity. Anyway, we wish him good luck in his very challenging task.

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