National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Renewal Of Friendship

The four-day visit of the chief of the British army adds a new dimension to the centuries-old relations between two countries

By A CORRESSPONDENT

British and Nepal have maintained strong and friendly relations for nearly two centuries. The ties between their armies are equally old and cordial. Whenever Nepal has faced any kind of turmoil or trouble, the United Kingdom has responded with sympathy and promptness.

The recent four-day visit of Britain's Chief of Army Staff Sir Michael Boyce is very significant, coming at a time when Nepal's internal security is under threat from Maoist terrorism. Ever since British Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw visited Nepal earlier this year, Britain has shown sincere support to the country's effort to quell terrorism.

Nepalese security forces are fighting their war against terrorism with limited resources and decade-old infrastructure. Successful anti-insurgency operations require urgent modernization of weapons and communications gear, which a resource-starved country like Nepal cannot easily afford.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba explained Nepalese constraints and concerns during his talks in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Coming in the immediate aftermath of the Deuba-Blair talks, Gen. Boyce's visit has provided Britain an opportunity to get first-hand information on the scale of Nepal's problems and its security and development needs.

In a span of two weeks, the army chiefs from Nepal's two traditional friends have visited the country and inspected the operations of its security forces. Indian army chief Gen. S. Padmanavan, who praised the efficiency of the Royal Nepalese Army personnel and agreed to provide necessary equipment and other support like training, was the first foreign army chief to inspect security operations in the kingdom.

After his visits to eastern Nepal and some other areas, Gen. Boyce hailed the sacrifices made by the Royal Nepalese Army personnel and hinted at further support. Following the imposition of the state of emergency last November, more than 200 security personnel have lost their lives in the defence of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy.

Following the heavy loss of life and material Nepalese soldiers and police personnel suffered in the Maoist assaults in Achham and Salayan in February, the United States - the world's sole super power - has realized the need to provide modern logistical support to Nepalese security forces.

For nearly six years, no country had shown much interest in the escalation of Maoist terrorism in Nepal. Media coverage delved deep into social and economic factors involved, often to the extent of ignoring the dangerous threat the Maoists represented to Nepalese democracy and nationhood. Following the deadly attacks in New York and Washington last year, the United States has taken the initiative in modernizing military capabilities of several countries as part of its global war on terrorism.

Despite the change in the global scenario, the Maoists continue to terrorize the people in various parts of the country. Moreover, the rebels continue to use Indian soil for training and shelter. If the pledges made by Gen. Padmanabhan are translated into action, Nepal can expect to see a dramatic reduction in terrorist activities soon. Nepal's northern neighbor, China, also has come out in full support of the government's operations against the terrorists.

Apart from providing the British government an opportunity to study the overall situation of the country's security needs, Gen. Boyce's visit also underscored the fact that Britain stands as a true friend of Nepal.