EDITOR'S NOTE

The suspension of flights to Kathmandu by Indian Airlines after the hijack incident has started generating misgivings. Why should the authorities of the Indian Airlines take such a long time in coming to a decision when it is hurting the economy of a small friendly neighbor is becoming rather an enigma. That the plane was hijacked after it took off from the Tribhuwan International Airport in Nepal is an established fact. But, in no way it should give anybody the excuse to allege that there was no security in TIA. The hijack of IC814 is not the sole hijack incident in history. Even airplanes with water tight security have been hijacked and airports with the strictest of security have been the victims. Consequently, friends of Nepal and India in both countries have to give serious consideration to the issue and bring the stalemate to an end without undue delay. They should not overlook the fact that such uncertain situation only provides a fertile ground for those elements in both countries who are continuously prowling to muddle the cordial relations. To cite an example, unauthenticated reports have appeared in Nepalese media that His Majesty's Government of Nepal had agreed to the request by India to post Indian security personnel at TIA. Even though the Nepalese foreign office too were quick to refute the rumor, such baseless reporting have all the potentials of spreading wrong signals. One may have reasons to doubt the judgement of Nepalese Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai but even to imagine that the Indian statesmen would again request for extra territorial rights to post their security personnel at TIA would be tantamount to belittling their sagacity and statesmanship. They must be knowing fully well that this is a very sensitive issue and in the interest of strengthening the existing friendly relations should not be tampered with. We must not forget that such a situation more than three decades back had mired the bilateral relations and should not be repeated at any cost. We do believe the Indian envoy in Kathmandu K.V. Rajan can play a definite and positive role in this regard. During his five year long tenure Rajan has made many tangible contributions to further Nepal's interests specially in the trade and economic sector. Now, it is time for him to use his good offices to arrest the adverse effects on Nepal's tourism and trade that have been engendered by the suspension of Indian Airlines flights. The sooner the flights are restored the better for both the nations.

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