NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Common Concern

US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Nepal is expected to have a significant impact on the kingdom's fight against terrorism

By A CORRRESPONDENT

At a time when South Asia is caught in the mire of terrorism, the visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to have a significant impact on Nepal's move to fight against terrorists. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the United States has been seriously concerned by the rise of terrorism in South Asia.

All South Asian countries have been facing terrorism problems. The terrorist groups in the region have a broad network. From the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to Muslim terrorist groups based in Pakistan and the other outfits in India, all organizations are dreaded and dangerous. If they develop internal links, the region, along with the whole international community, would have to face serious complications.

After the December 13 attack in Parliament House in New Delhi, one could see the extent of the reach of terrorist outfits. After the Maoists in Nepal launched deadly attacks in November, killing a number of security personnel, the international community supported the country's move to impose a state of emergency and to mobilize the army against the terrorists.

As Nepal shares a long and open border with India, Nepal cannot contain the Maoist terrorists without India's whole-hearted support. Nepal's political leaders have complained in the past that Maoist rebels are trained and sheltered in India to launch attack in Nepal, killing innocent civilians. Even after the imposition of the state of emergency, the Maoists are continuing their attacks. Against this backdrop of terrorism, Powell will be the first US Secretary of State to visit Nepal during the 55 year-old history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He is scheduled to arrive here on

Friday (January 18). As India is putting military and diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism, how Nepalese officials will put Kathmandu's point of view in front of Powell on Maoist terrorism remains to be seen.

The United States has clearly pointed out that it would not accept any form of violence and terrorist activities and would take action against all terrorist groups. For Nepalis, who have endured tremendous loss of human life and destruction of property over the last six years, Powell's visit comes as a sigh of relief.

"Nepal remained a close ally of the West during the Cold War. Powell's visit proves that the United States is seriously concerned about the problem of terrorism faced by this small Himalayan kingdom," said former diplomat. "Nepal must utilize the opportunity of the visit by the US secretary of state."

Powell will have a brief stopover in Nepal before flying to Japan to attend a summit that is expected to raise funds for the reconstruction of Afghanistan on Saturday. He will be discussing issues of bilateral interest with senior Nepalese officials.

King Gyanendra will grant an audience to the US dignitary. Meanwhile, newspapers have commented that the all-important visit by Powell is likely to end up merely as a photo-op for Nepal, since the host country doesn't have a full-time foreign minister. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who holds both the foreign and defense portfolios, neither has deep interest nor commands expertise on the country's foreign relations.

After the September 11 and December 13 attacks, there has been an unprecedented global consensus on the fight against terrorism, As Powell's visit serves to reaffirm US support against terrorism, how India will respond would determine the future of Maoist terrorism in Nepal.