Analyst believe Indian assistance is essential to sort out Maoists issue

-Prof. T.N. Jaiswal, Political Science Dept, T.U.

Before the unification of modern Nepal State, the different kingdoms and principalities existing in the then territories and maintained their relationships within themselves and also with the bordering kingdoms, principalities of Indian territories. The historical aspect of this relationship had yet to be researched. Because, such facts are to be uncovered, which lay under bellies of history. With the advent of British colonial expansion, the Indian kingdoms and principalities fell one after the other under its domain, control and influence. So this power's rise in India had provided an influential impact upon the integration process launched by His majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah-the Great, as the geopolitical and strategical climate was changing fast around Nepal. Its survival was dependent upon it. His foreign policy concept rested on it. Thereby he advocated the principles of maintaining good relations between "two stones" that is to keep off from annoying them and preserving Nepali interests by developing good understanding with both of them. It meant, thus, to initiate good neighborly relations with the British India and Tibet, as it would preserve its security, peace, independence and sovereignty.

As the political and security climate was changing due to the British move to consolidate their advancement toward westward from Calcutta to grab and control the territories bordering Nepal under Shah rule. Some conflicts emerged with its both partners, which virtually affected its relationships with them. Its engagement with Tibet in 1780s and 1914-16 with British in India respectively had shown their effects upon the treaties that the Nepalese ruler's emissary signed with Tibet in 1789 and 1792 and with British India in 1816. These treaties arranged the borders of Nepal. The Mahakali river in the West became border between British India and Nepal.

So in conflicts, the modern Nepal as integrated by the Shah rulers after HM King Prithvi Narayan had to manage their foreign relations with Tibet, under the influence of China, and British India. Because, geopolitically it needs to pursue its foreign policy principles in the changing conditions that emerged in the region that is in the Himalayan international politics. The issues relating to political economy, trade and commerce, and political security as well as people's level contact are the areas that have continued to exercise their influence not only in the past but also in the present day on its policy and relations. Thus, in relations, Nepal have problems on issues mentioned above with India and Tibet now an autonomous region of China. In this aspect, the geography's contiguous territorial linkages have played a role in Nepal-India relations.

In the case of relations management pattern between Nepal and India, geography connected issues had dominated it. These have not only had exercised their influence on the Nepalese managing tactics of relations with British India, but they have continued also to influence the current relationship with India. Here, it is proper to mention that the British rule induce it to exercise its diplomacy to seek military cooperation with Jung Bahadur Rana, who had come to power after political unheaval in 1846 , to quell the Sepoy mutiny in 1857. Further the British also succeeded in diplomacy after 1916 treaty to open residential level relations with Nepal with a resident-political officer in Kathmandu. This opening office led it to develop close relations with the Nepalese ruling leaders and the King. It initiated an effective cooperation between the two countries and also to develop relationship in other fields – political, economic, social, security and people level. The 1867 cooperation had left an impact upon the measures to seek consent for recruitment of Gorkhas in the army from Rana ruler. Further, the openness of the border also gave opportunity to the Nepalese people to use it, ass they were doing in the past for livelihood, job, social cultural, religious relations and also for economic, trade and commerce. In this context, it could be said that the people's level relations exist not only at that time but it also exists at present time.

This trend is continuous. It has been in practice not only during British rule in India. But, this has continued even after India's independence in 1947. Therefore the relations between Nepal and India have been good in political, social, and economical, religious fields and as well at people level. Here the conditions between Nepal and India ties have not yet changed that exist in the Himalayan region, which British had used to shape their relations with Nepal. The independent India has also used them further with Nepal with the changing political climate. The Nepalese state also took opportunity to reshape its relationship with it and other powers like the UK, France and the US and also with Tibet.

Here, Nepal got the opportunity to open its diplomatic ties with foreign powers besides maintaining its traditional ties with India and Tibet. It had broken the shackle of British upon its relations i.e. it had not allowed it to forge relations with other powers. Further, the Britishers gradually raised the diplomatic status to Nepal from residency to legation and then to embassy in 1947. As they left India, it influenced Nepalese leaders in power to open its door for developing relations with other nations.

Particularly after India's independence on August 15, 1947 Nepal's diplomatic missions level of relations were enhanced to Ambassadorial status and embassies were opened. Also this Indian new position has opened a road for other British colonies to seek their independence. Further it gave new approach in foreign policy and international relations. It induces the new emerging states to adopt the principles of non-aligned policy, which Indian and other countries like Nepal followed. This policy further strengthened the Nepalese ideals of foreign policy as given by His Majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah the great. By this policy Nepal had succeeded to manage its relations with India and Tibet. Now it has used the opportunity to adjust its relationship with India and China within the peripheries changing environment of Himalayan Sector particularly in the context of Nepal. The international political conditions have also helped to a large extent to develop its relations with other countries, which in the past it had been deprived of. So within this scenario that had developed between 1947-60, Nepal and India went ahead to sign a treaty of peace and friendship of 1950 which further strengthened the age old ties and security as well as people to people level relations. Secondly, within this period, an agreement of tripartite nature had also been signed among Britain, Nepal and India on Gorkha forces which had been divided between India and Britain.

Regarding the political movement in Nepal, the border is open, the political scenario emerging here are particularly seem interdependent. Most movements of political nature have its implications. The leaders have used this geographic feature to channelise their movement. This interdependent character further is strengthened with the culture, customs, religions, education and cross-border relationship among the people. In this way, the political culture developing from the Indian system based on tradition and pattern of political conditions existing around the two nations from the past to present have added new dimensions towards it.

However, the relationship in political and security aspects achieve demand the attention for a critical appraisal as it affects the development of Nepalese life and processes.

Water issue:

Besides, the political, security, social, and economic issues, the water problems also dominate the relations of the two countries, as these do not only provide avenues for electric-sharing, but it also involve great amount of water management schemes for flood control, irrigation of agricultural lands, and running of industries, and electrification of villages. Therefore the stakes and interest of both these countries are high. The great potential richness of Nepal in water has given it a real bargaining position with India. The major rivers like Mahakali, Karnali, Narayaani, Koshi etc which are the Gange's tributaries have given input to Indian water policy as well as to the Nepalese water policy. The major agreements on Mahakali, Pancheshwar, Gandak, and Koshi are the examples of Nepal-India cooperation in water. But in some cases the DPRs yet to be reached. There are other smaller rivers, which require attention, because, they also play havoc during rainy season.

The border issues:

Nepal- India border is open for the transaction and communications for trade and commence and people's movement. The most important issues between the two countries are smugglings, illegal trade, arms-shipments and people's social, cultural and business transactions. Out of these the smuggling and illegal trade, and arm-shipment need to be checked, which have been discussed at all times between the officials of the two countries and carry on the system of open border. Some kinds of amicable solution have to be found out without hampering the common people's movement as usual.

Nepal's position

Dr. Jaiswal does not agree with the Head of Department of Political science at the T.U who qualifies Nepal an "undeclared colony of Nepal". According to him, especially in this globalised world, all nations are interdependent and dependence for peace, security, sovereignty and transaction and communication in this aspect, Nepal, being an independent and sovereign country has not lost its position to any colonial power either to Moghul or British. It had successfully maintained it sovereign status during British rule in India. Mere geographic, economic, trade, commerce, and people's dependency does not entail to brand Nepal as "undeclared colony of India". Rather, the people of Nepal have provided their contributions in Indian freedom struggle, peace and security through Gorkha forces. Both the countries respect sovereignty and independence of each other and have treated themselves accordingly. The interaction between them are intensified in the geo factors impact; moreover, the international regional, continental, and global developments have further brought the nations together, in which Nepal and India are partners, so they take stand interdependently or individually upon the merit of the issues concerned. There are instances, where they had differences on major issues. The sovereignty and independence has given the right to take stand on the world issues based upon its foreign policy ideology and interests.

The interdependence features of Nepal do not indicate that Nepal would accept any country's hegemony over it, and would be dictated by one power as it had experience of past. Nepal has an independent status in Nepal-India relations and in the global politics after 1947. Its neighbor respects it in practice too.

Current political crisis:

In the present political crisis, Nepal-India relations are faced by the cross-border issues. In this respect a reference has been made above about cooperation and coordination of the activities between the two countries to check the danger of terrorist not only in Nepal but also in India. In respect of constitutional crisis emerging from political movement of CPN (Maoist) and other major political parties have given a place of debate in the Nepal-India relations. Most of political analyst believes that the Indian presence is essential to find the solution. Even, the UN's facilities may need to bring the final solution. But, both India and Nepal feel that the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system are a must for Nepalese democracy. This is very hard nut to break before the political demands of the CPN (Maoist), who had proved to be a strong political force in the Nepalese politics.

In other aspects of relations between Nepal and India a cooperation of effective dimension is needed in the present day political economy social and political security areas. There are number of agreements upon cooperation, which need to be reviewed in the light of changing conditions and new issues.

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