Whither Nepal's security interests?

I remember very vividly how a South Asian diplomat a few years back in Kathmandu receptions had told me that Nepal was not even a "sovereign nation". This was a stunning disclosure indeed. Undoubtedly, he advanced justifications to his statements quoting established theories of political science. Whether Nepal is or is not a sovereign nation is a topic for debate of the political scientists. Albeit the diplomat had told me that the open borders with India  could be a source of problem both for Nepal and India   on a permanent basis. He one way or the other advised the Nepali media men to press Nepal government to talk to India  for the regulation of this long porous border. Concluding his remarks, the diplomat had also predicted that India  would never accept this proposal if it were pushed by Nepal for obvious reasons. In a passing reference the diplomat boldly told that as and when Nepal would push the  reviewal of the 1950 issue, the Indian side will take it as an affront to her and might retaliate in forms unpredictable. His analysis had been that keeping the borders open and the 1950 treaty intact, India  will enjoy perennial advantages and that it would also allow her  to press Nepal at its convenience. To a greater extent this analysis appears correct. Those who have been closely following Indian politics in Nepal will perhaps understand this subtle phenomenon. India  always claims that Nepal has ever neglected India 's security interests but never accepts to regulate the border. The latest Indian annoyance towards Nepalese obnoxious "behavior" has come from Inder Kumar Gujaral and one Indian journalist, Mr. V.K.Grover. However these two prominent Indians would not wish to regulate the border that troubles them more often than not. Here lies the crux of the matter as to why India rejects Nepali proposal on the regulation of the porous border.

India   is vocal and says that Nepalese territories have more often than not been used by elements inimical to her. Nepal denies at the official such charges. China too this time appeared suspect of Nepali motives when the 14th KARMAPA sneaked into India  using Nepalese soil.

However, for the first time perhaps in the history of this nation, one Nepali scholar, Dr. Shiva Nepal has forwarded the view that enough had been enough and that now it was time that this nation must talk with the

neighboring countries regarding the preservation of Nepal's own genuine security interests. In essence, the Nepalese foreign policy till to date had been subjected to various stress and strains by India and China and

the Nepalese side remained ever busy in convincing the two immediate neighbors that the Nepalese soil would in no way be used or allowed to be used against the "security interests" of those countries. Despite

these sincere assurances, the countries in question deliberate or otherwise never gave due weight to the Nepali official stance.

Nepal , a country sandwiched between two giants, however, appears to have not even defined what her "security interests" were in essence? A country that has yet to define her genuine "national interests" will undoubtedly not think on those lines as advanced by Dr. Nepal. But the time has come that Nepali academia and the media men must sound this factor to the establishment which perhaps has no time in looking into such crucial matters that has a direct bearing on country's sovereignty if any?

Comparatively speaking, Nepal has to confront India on so many fronts except the traditional ties which is definitely there. The open borders with India  have too become a permanent source of trouble and threat to Nepalese security interests. The open borders phenomenon has surely allowed noted Indian criminals to sneak into this otherwise peaceful nation and create problems of highest orders. Undoubtedly, the criminalization seen in Nepalese politics is a gift to Nepal from India  and is comparatively a new culture for this nation. So much so that Prime Minister Koirala has only recently bluntly admitted that Nepalese Maoists get arms and ammunitions from across the borders and that too in total collaboration of the security personals from this side. And many more events could be cited those have threatened our security interests considerably.

The official tours recently made by Nepal's military chief, Prazzwal Rana, to some "important" countries of this region including China is loaded with meaning. The countries visited by Rana all borders India  and some way or the other face terrorist threats in different forms. Rana's trips though have been downplayed but yet seems meaningful. The climax had been that Rana's Chinese counterpart reciprocated the visit. This highly important visit from China presumably give an inkling into the fact that the latter will henceforth remain alert insofar as the preservation of her national security interests in Nepal were concerned. Consider that the visit came close on the heels of KARMAPA's fleeing  to India , through Nepal.

Some strong undercurrents appear on work especially after Clinton's "successful" India  visit. Nepal must now take care of her genuine "security interests" and tell her immediate neighbors to exhibit reciprocity in their conducts with Nepal on security matters. After all friendship demands reciprocity as well.

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