NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Security Matters

The new Indian envoy defies hawks to win over Nepalese sentiments

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

In his first public interaction with members of the press in the capital last Wednesday (January 23), newly appointed Indian ambassador to Nepal, Dr. I. P. Singh, presented himself as a long-standing friend of Nepal, recalling his visit to Kathmandu in 1960 as part of an Indian delegation during the government led by B.P. Koirala — who had countered Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's statement (made at the Indian Parliament on December 6, 1950) that "India's magnificent frontiers are the Himalayas.. and that principal barrier to India lies on the other side of Nepal."

Ambassador Singh : Open diplomacy

Four decades down the lane, the seasoned Indian diplomat had to clarify his government's position vis-a-vis Nepal's security interests. Replying to a question, Dr. Singh made it clear that Nepal could buy arms from wherever it wanted. Singh's statement seemed quite a departure from the Indian stand when the then Rajiv Gandhi government had imposed 18-month-long trade embargo against Nepal in 1989-90 for procuring arms from her northern neighbor, China.

Even after over a decade of the trade embargo ó which is seen as one of the lowest ebbs in the bilateral relationsó a strong lobby in Indian establishment still feels that Nepal, a sovereign country, has forfeited its right to make crucial decisions including procuring arms for national security ó under the 1950 treaty with India on peace and friendship.

In one of its editorials last week (January 22), the influential Times of India (TOI) daily, said to be close to the South Block in New Delhi, wrote " despite the 1950 treaty with Nepal, Indian sensibilities are

ignored by (US Secretary of State) Mr. Powell's explicit offer of military aid to the Himalayan kingdom. Ö Such restraint, despite Nepal falling within New Delhi's area of `security interest,' is now being brazenly mocked by Washington's over flying of Indian prerogatives. That is, if New Delhi has not been consulted."

Perhaps hinting toward the strategically important location of Nepal between two Asian giants ó India and China, the TOI editorial further said: "This is not to suggest that Nepal should remain under India's defense umbrella, but to underscore that the principles of India-Nepal relationship should not be treated as an instrument of expedience against one power or in favor of another."

Those who have closely followed Nepal's foreign policy argue that Nepal can't and shouldn't take the risk of using one neighbor against the other. Such a short-term `strategy' could be very fatal on her own existence, they warn. But, it doesn't mean that Nepal should not promote and defend its legitimate interests in matters including national security.

India has been quite sensitive about alleged use of Nepalese soil by anti-India elements. "The hijacking of Indian Airlines plane on Christmas eve in 1999 is one such example," said Dr. Singh. While Nepalese authorities maintain that they will not allow Nepalese soil to be used against any of its neighbors, they also expect reciprocal treatment from them. Though then-Prime Minister GP Koirala had raised the issue of Nepalese Maoists taking shelter and training in India, it was only after the September 11 incident last year that Indian government took note of growing networking of Maoists outfits in the region.

As soon as Nepal declared a state of emergency to fight Maoist insurgency branding them as terrorists in late November last year, Indian government, too, declared two of its dreaded Maoist outfits, the People's War Group and the Maoist Communist Center as terrorist groups.

"The Indian government would assist Nepal in every possible way in its fight against Maoist insurgency," said ambassador Singh. "The border authorities of the two countries are already having very close cooperation to see that Maoists don't get any support from India and cross over to the Indian territory."

India has already provided two Cheetah helicopters to be used by the Royal Nepalese Army as a "gift" and also sent huge consignments of military hardware upon the request of the Nepalese government a few weeks back. Mulyankan, a monthly magazine, reported in its latest issue that Nepal has already imported military trucks, arms and ammunitions from India through Kakarbhitta and Sunauli border points. "Indian military assistance to Nepal has come at a time when India is exploring markets to sell its military equipment. Nepal could be one of its prospective buyers at the moment," the report said.

Top government officials have gone on record as saying that Nepal would buy arms to fight the Maoist insurgency from wherever it gets them comparatively cheaper and easier. It broadly means that India is the most potential market for Nepalese military shopping.

Despite such a ground reality, Indian envoy's latest remarks have come as a respite for the Nepali intelligentsia, which at times turns over-sensitive on issues related to Nepal-India relations.

Article V of the Nepal-India Treaty, 1950:

The Government of Nepal shall be free to import, from or through the territory of India, arms, ammunition or warlike material and equipment necessary for the security of Nepal. The procedure for giving effect to this arrangement shall be worked out by the two Governments acting in consultation.