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PRASHANT JHA
Plain Speaking
Security sureties

PRASHANT JHA

FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBSCRIBE NT PRINT REFER WRITE TO EDITOR


The Nepali political class needs to understand where it fits into the renewed Indian focus on security
he Nepal Army chief visits India, the Indian Army chief reciprocates by visiting Nepal. The Indian foreign minister arrives in Kathmandu, the Nepali home minister goes to Delhi with security chiefs. Indian interlocutors express concern about the use of Nepali territory for anti-India activities, ask Nepal to allow sky marshals on Indian aircraft from Kathmandu, and convey to the home minister the need to arrive at an agreement on the extradition treaty.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to guess what India's primary interest in Nepal is right now. It is security, security, and security.

The Nepali political class has to understand that they are dealing with a new, assertive, purposeful and focused Indian security establishment. P. Chidambaram's emphasis on a "thorough and radical departure from the present structure" has rung in the changes. In his path-breaking speech to the Intelligence Bureau in December 2009, the Indian home minister talked about how India is the site of all kinds of violence - secessionism, Maoism, religious fanaticism and added, "Never before has the Indian state faced such a formidable challenge." On the ground, the new security architecture has meant more police posts; more police personnel; better intelligence coordination; community policing; and quick response teams at the district level.

At the top, the practice has been of multiple intelligence agencies reporting to different masters. There have been some changes since the Mumbai attacks. Through the Multi-Agency Centre, there is better coordination of information. There is also a daily meeting under the Home Minister of the National Security Advisor, RAW and Intelligence Bureau chiefs, with bureaucrats keeping track of intelligence reports and follow-up actions.

What Chidambaram is proposing now is the creation of a National Counter Terrorism Centre along the lines of that in post-9/11 US, responsible for intelligence, investigation and operations. It would have the mandate to try to prevent and respond to violence unleashed by any group in India. All intelligence and security agencies would be under its oversight. The Home Ministry itself would deal only with internal security. The exit of M.K. Narayanan as National Security Advisor has facilitated Chidambaram's plans. Chidambaram's drive has had some results. There was no terror attack in 'mainland' India through 2009. Violence in Kashmir and the Northeast is reported to have dipped a bit. And with help from a friendly Bangladesh government, India nabbed the head of ULFA, the Assamese separatist organisation. But none of these problems are resolved, and the Naxal threat has only grown.

Nepali politicians and bureaucrats need to understand where they fit into this Indian focus on security. India wants a reliable and strong Nepali security structure. It wants an army which it can trust; a police and APF amenable to Indian requests; an intelligence department that keeps track of anti-Indian activities in Nepal and passes on information; and a political regime that is friendly.

Instead of waffling, the government must be more responsive, like it is in the case of China, when it comes to Indian security concerns. The sovereignty argument is shallow given how Nepali politicians lobby with their Indian counterparts and even bureaucrats for a range of favours, from becoming PM to getting one's son admission in a medical college.

India should ponder why despite this kind of leverage and investment, it cannot derive basic concessions. On their part, Nepali politicians should deliver on serious bilateral issues of concern to a neighbour on which we are totally dependent.

The Maoists should internalise this as well. Abusing India will only make them appear more unreliable to people like Chidambaram who come from a culture of corporate ruthlessness. If Prachanda thinks sucking up to Chinese intelligence officials, claiming India killed Madan Bhandari and Birendra, and arguing that any acknowledgement by the present government to Indian concerns is a 'sell-out' will scare India into accepting his supremacy, he is mistaken. It will only make the Indian ruling class more resistant to allowing an 'unreformed' Maoist party have hegemonic rule across the open border.

READ ALSO:
Waiting for Godot - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)
In a state of paranoia - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)
More than mountains - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)

Comments    Show Oldest First | Show Newest First
1. Satyajeet Nepali
Bull's eye! All our state organs, government, intelligence agency, Army, Police, bureaucracy, everything should now be dedicated to protecting Indian "security interests". That's what "New Nepal" is for. To ensure India is happy, prosperous and secure. We may be screwed. But it doesn't matter. In this "peaceful", beautiful, glorious New Nepal, India comes first! Thanks Prashant. Thanks Girija, Prachanda etc etc. Thank you for delivering me, after centuries and centuries of oppression and suppression, my real true identity. I'm beaming with pride. My happiness knows no bounds. I am now a true-to-the-marrow 'chowkidaar' of India! What could be of greater glory to a Bahadur like me?! Koti, koti dhanyabad. Jai Hind!
Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 3:52 PM NST

2. Nirmal
satyajeet nepali should go waving jingoist flag near nepal-india borders or align with the maoists ultra-nationalist faction. When you are between strongest, better you don't show your teeth with such vulgarity rather you smile with diplomacy(expression)! I can cry foul all the time, shout or scold others for the misery but If they do not work then I should change my style. Rightists and the maoists have the same habit of boiling the frog which didn't work and will never....their nationalism is their maangikhaane bhaando(translation:beggar's pot).
Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 9:58 PM NST

3. Arthur
This concept of Nepal's "political class" and how it must be responsive to India's concerns seems rather dated. Its as though no other classes have moved into politics since the People's War and people's movement. That is an illusion from paying attention only to the politicians and not to the changes among the people. One can sympathize with the Indians for having to deal with this sycophantic "political class" for so long. Nobody actually likes sycophants. How could the Indians trust an Army that nobody in Nepal trusts? India may not know it yet, but relations will actually improve when Nepal is governed by people with self respect instead of by people currying favours from India.
Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 11:01 PM NST

4. rishav
To hell with India's internal security concerns. Where was India when Nepal had a Maoist Insurgency but providing a safe haven for the maoist top leaders after countless attempts of successive democratically elected Nepali governments requests for their extradition. One rule for them and one rule for us, no way! Nepal is a sovereign nation and must stay that way. If India what's things from Nepal it should be prepared to succumb to even greater demands from Nepal. Nepal is no little brother to India, but should be respected as the oldest nation in the south asian subcontinent. Nepal's relationship with China is not at all anti-Indian activity, it's actually none of their business, hope soon we develop that road connecting us with Lhasa and China and not have to rely on India anymore.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 6:41 AM NST

5. jange
"Nobody actually likes sycophants." How right you are Arthur. That is probably why the Indians now want to ditch Your Dear Leader. Even after so many years of faithful service the Indians have decided the master is not happy. Hence the recent lunatic pronouncements by Your Dear Leader. To terrorise your own countrymen at the behest of a foreign power- now that is sycophancy.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 7:30 AM NST

6. Arthur
Poor jange. That's the trouble with simply repeating a script. The old script was "Maoists are working for India". The current script is supposed to be "Maoist violence, looting, extortion". But if somebody mentions India, the old script comes bubbling out, even when the context makes it completely ridiculous.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 11:37 AM NST

7. rishav
Arthur if that is really your name, where are you from? Presumably your not Nepali, so why are you then writing in a Nepali weekly? I guess you have left wing tinge to your politics going by your comments, so I suspect you may be one of these Non-Nepali, coach potato, starbucks coffee drinking communists. Listen get off your fat back side create a socialist revolution in your own country and then only comment on the state of socialism in other countries. I don't think the Nepali Maoists have much respect for you foreign theorists either, I think they only want your donations which is probably not much any way. No action just all talk!
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 4:50 PM NST

8. Satyajeet Nepali
Hey, hey Nirmal, easy brother. Don't go off getting so nervous already! You mistake me. Promise you I'm not one to go waving flags nowhere and trust me I'm no 'jingoist' or 'ultra-nationalist' or anything complex like that. I'm just a straightforward fellow who says it like he sees it, and this is what I see ..we've always been a pretty poor country now, haven't we? And in olden days, those of us who were unable to find jobs in our country went over to India to work as Gorkhas in their Army or 'chowkidaars' in their homes. (Very kind of them to accept us as so). Nonetheless, I'd (foolishly) hoped that as our country progressed and developed, the need for this would decline. But now I see my folly. With the dawn of New Nepal I've realized, why just individual Nepalis? Our whole society, state and state machinery can be the 'chowkidaar' for India. What a brilliant idea! And really, that's what we're here for. Why should it matter that Nepal's security organs no longer provide any security to its own citizens? Why should it matter that any one of us could be looted, extorted, terrorized, beaten up or murdered in broad daylight in our own homes? Why should it matter, even, that our dear big brother himself enabled us to get to this situation? Nothing doing. Doesn't matter what happens to us. As Bahadurs, our government and security organs' first and foremost duty is to ensure that our big brothers across the border feel safe and secure. How dare anyone be 'ultra-nationalist' enough to propose anything else?
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 5:11 PM NST

9. Satya Nepali
..We should be forever beholden to those who gave us independence from Rana-rule, Panchayat-rule, Raja-rule and, frankly, from the rule of Rule itself! Surrounded on three sides by such a great power, we should be ever-ready to sacrifice our own security, comfort and interests to protect theirs. Serving their interest is our interest. How dare anyone be 'jingoistic' enough to think otherwise! It all makes perfect sense. Historically, geographically, culturally, from every perspective, we are but a minor backwater. We are but the gatekeepers of the great Indian civilization. How dare we be 'anti-Indian' enough to rise above our station? I agree with you, Nirmal. From every perspective, including yours that we "smile with diplomacy" (Salaam sahib! With a nice beaming smile, isn't it?), from every perspective it makes sense that this, indeed, is our role and destiny as independent, sovereign New Nepali nationals. Those feudalistic, tyrannical rulers of the past had been totally misleading and deluding us by putting all those 'ultra-nationalistic', 'jingoistic', and 'anti-Indian' "propaganda" into our heads. But with the dawn of New Nepal, and thanks to the efforts of people like you, Prashant, NT etc., I have finally come to realize my true position underneath the great big sun. We had been fooled all ths while. 'Beer Gorkhali' is just another word for 'chowkidaar'! Thank you again Prashant for helping me see the light! His Excellency Sood himself couldn't have explained it any better.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 5:25 PM NST

10. suresh
we Nepalese certainly over react to the indian. the ugra nationalism against india that is finishing pakistan now we moving in the same path.though we have so many issues with india and india has done injustice with us so many times but it is also the country which provide bread and butter. do u think anyother country will do . of course we can say there is commercial agenda, but in my view nepal is certainly not the bigger market for anything else than daal bhaat and tarkaari thats what our majority population fight for everyday.have u guys everbeen to nepali villages than only u will realise how we are dependent on them every family relies on india. poor boy from that corner of nepal first go to india for washing dishes , make some moneyand come back and go to dubai or qatar with that moneyand some loan.i don know why these people so calles educated people react in this way. if u love ur country than u should realise the people across border love their country too. and its not good idea to hurt others nationalism in their republic day.i have nth against india my family my community still rely on the money that come across the border i think its same for the majority of rural population because kathmandu never think about them. sometime for them delhi is near than the nepal(kathmandu) jai nepal
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 6:22 PM NST

11. Nirmal
well, being mired with ressentiments, are we supposed to be free from those things as satyajeet nepali and satya nepali were explaining? I think no. And i don't see any problem with the job chowkidaar(known as Bahadur), so what! there are many indians doing jobs that would embarass many....it has been more than 50 years of same anti-indian story; border disputes; theory of sikkimisation; worthless diplomacy; undesirable interferences etc and still the formula is there to triumph with complete mediocrity. I don't say they(the unsatisfactions) don't carry weight but how many years more to waste like this. it is time to change, time to do diplomacy without being emotional and with pretty silence and effectiveness.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 9:29 PM NST

12. nirmal
"As there is no two Nepal ... fortunately for the planet." It is a solid and certain politically incorrect joke which deserves to be told more often. Because in this country there lacks enough self-criticism and there are over self-indulgence. Let them yell who consider themselves "very Nepali," who are not "traitors". The true "revolutionary nationalists". Let them yell( as they can not convince either with analytical argument). And even more: the joke that they find funny, because they are "well-born Nepalis (no doubt, though regularly, there are also some inhuman bastards)", and they should be counted with standing dedication to the whole court of xenophobic, racist, ignorant of history, accessories, cynical, verbose and fanatics who are, consciously or unconsciously, jingoistic nationalists and are those members or alleged members of a nation that understand, encourage, justify and console themselves strictly and simply as such, not as individual subjects with the same rights and obligations (free individuals). Or, put another way, those in closed, impervious and proud possession of a psycho-cultural origin, language (or some variant) and unique traditions within the borders of a territory or not generalized beyond a specific, and furthermore believe in and practice the cult of the "heroes" and other symbols of the homeland. Yes, the same as in Nepal, today they call themselves liberal, communists and royalists without being citizens, and much less are able to contextualize to "see" and understand it in time and space. Illness! Because nationalism also had political and cultural purist doctrine, and it is just a social disease. Just as jingoism is a lifting of the irrationality, the absurdity of dislocations. How right was George Bernard Shaw: Ultra-patriotism is nothing that "the belief that a country is more superior than other countries because you were born into it." Nothing more. Silly. A conviction unpresentable from a democratic perspective, and humanist. Because being born in one country or another is just an accident and, of course, no country is superior to another in this regard. That belief is stupid and is a source of endless, bloody and costly processes and political conflicts. Do not forget that all Latin American dictatorships of the twentieth century had nationalistic vein. Or are there any good and bad nationalisms? How about some "not served" (?), as ours since half century, and others who may come to do? And where it is established which is which? In ideological chambers of the nation? In this regard, the hare and the cat are the same dish: the binomial nationalism-chauvinism means a maximalist undemocratic common denominator: love to tan ( "history of bronze") disregard the collective purism. That, no doubt, has engendered much of the tragedies they have suffered human beings. At one time, it is no coincidence that where nationalism is the focal point human rights are secondary. Why? Because no matter a man or woman without further (which should and can be enough) but be "mine", "of us". Going further: the extreme case: the fascist totalitarianism, in German and Italian and spanish, is in principle and in essence, a nationalism. Some will say to himself or aloud: "Ah, but is that not all nations are like the German (which is a truism) and would come to do what they did there (which is a fallacy in argumentative sense) ". Well let me introduce the nationalist fascism incubated. In a paradox, which in Nepal is called defeatist mentality by the maoists and rightists, how bloody and distressful! The perpetual victims. That paradox-again-they were, are and shall be nationalists! We "clash" and outrage that the India behave as it does. But where does and / or how they are feeding their behavior? Indeed, ladies and gentlemen: of the belief (false and falsifiable) that they are superior, that is, they are better because they, being what they are anything but rich, strong and triumphant (being rich, strong and winner does make anyone intrinsically better to someone else?). patriotism of 21st century!
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 10:46 PM NST

13. Devendra Pant
No surprise that Mr. P. Chidambaram is committed to develop a strategic vision for the national interests and security of India. What surprises me is the horizon of our intellectuals who seem still trapped in the trench of history and cannot see the world beyond Patna. It is ridiculous to hypothesize that Nepal needs to "fit-in" into the security scheme of the South Block. The thesis of 'common security umbrella' was rejected long-time ago even by old-generation leader like B.P.Koirala. I do agree with the scribe that some corrupt politicans and bureaucrats in Nepal do not hesitate to put their petty self-interests above national interest. I am confident that the future does not belong to that generation. Nepal already has a critical mass of newly educated young generation of leaders who are capable to craft a strategic vision for the interest and national security of our country. India has yet to earn trusts from her neighbours if she wants to establish herself as a Regional Power. Regional security is a shared concept and is possible only if there is stability and prosperity in the neighbourhood. Of course, India can play a positive and constructive role. What Indian leaders need to quit is their 'colonial' and hegemonic "attitude" that they inherited from their colonial master. Countries trust each other only if the relationship is built on solid foundations of reciprocity and mututal respect. I believe that Mr. Chidambaram, an western educated "market-savvy" guy, understands the ground reality. Even for business to thrive and prosper there needs to be stability and trust. (See how China has attracted world-class capitalist investment!). Earning turst and friendship is a long-term investment. India's soft-power could be much more useful to win the hearts and minds of her neighbours.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 12:18 AM NST

14. Norbu Ghaley
I wonder why we are just looking down on our Indian neighbor. When madhesis come to earn their livelihood, many people call them dhoti, abuse them and loot their merchandises. India for Nepal much grateful neighbor than that of our new neighbor PRC China, they are just more than 50 years old but very aggressive and cruel neighbor. Concerning land encroachment, Chinese side had been encroaching many parts Nepalese territory in the West by all means of tricks. Being trustworthy with old friend India would much beneficial to Nepal.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 3:20 AM NST

15. SP
The instilled belief by self proclaimed dear leader, supreme leader and failed leaders (or are they leader?) is plaguing our rationality. We are very keen in finding excuses to hide our failures and misgivings towards each other. We are so naive that we accept arguments that India is hell bent in colonizing Nepal. They have real concerns about the security of their nation not like our nation which is hardly interested in tackling real issues like security, poverty and the list goes on. How come we are not furious at supreme leaders without any credibility who frowns upon own people, mislead us by nonsense propaganda. We should grow up and start behaving and thinking as equal partners rather than subservient mentality where we feel that we are always victimized. We need to understand the concerns about our neighbours and need to make then aware of our concerns. We should take the lead to our country's destiny not leave it to incapable and all discredited self proclaimed aged leaders who have failed infinite times and we do not have any hope from them.
Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 4:46 AM NST

16. jange
And what are Nepal's security interests?
Posted on: 31 JAN 2010 | 2:26 PM NST

17. K. K. Sharma
Nepal's security interests should have been not to accept and follow quislings as leaders. Since this has not been the case, Nepal has no security interests.
Posted on: 31 JAN 2010 | 1:30 AM NST

18. Manoj Aryal
i do agree with that just abusing India will not evoke our nationalism. The nepali politicians and beurocrats are never prepared and never do their home work when they are on the table face to face with their indian counter parts. The nepalese ministers are too "dull" and "dumb" infront of their indian counterpart, how can we compare our defense minister with a well prepared and focussed minister like Chidambaram, there are very few leaders who can stand infront of Chidambaram, like Pashupati Sumsher Rana, Prakash Chandra Lohani and Ramsaran Mahat. Nepal needs more people like them to stand at least in front of their Indian counter parts, the prime ministers daughter also got a scholarship to study in India (there was a runor that when pakistan offered her a scholarship Indian embassy officials went to Madhab Kumar Nepal's house to request him cancelling pakistan's offer and instead they promised him to send her in the best medical college of India. Not only nepalese leaders beg these kinds of things somehow India is also responsible for this, if you support begging off course the population of the beggars will increase. When maoists where sheltering in India it was the Indian govertment who supported thim, the security forces and intillegence of India could have tracked down within a week but the largest democracy of the world didn't bother to do so as it did with LITTE provoking them to kill Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, now Prachanda is doing the same, when in need he took refuge in India and India never bothered but now Indian Embassador roams nervous in Nepal. India such a big and dynamic country but it sometimes fails to make its heart bigger like its size.
Posted on: 31 JAN 2010 | 2:32 AM NST

19. jange
Nepal and Nepalis have accepted that the Maoist violence was and is a legitimate means to achieve political means. This is the biggest threat to national security. Until and unless Nepal is willing to treat the Maoists as the criminals that they are Nepal and Nepalis will have no security. Now, the Nepali government has no moral or any other authority to deal with any band of criminal if they come up with a few political slogans.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 7:58 AM NST

20. Satyajeet Nepali (1)
Well, so much for my attempt at being a satirist. For the benefit of commenters like suresh, Nirmal, SP etc., "satire" is deliberately exaggerated to draw attention to some ironical situation. It's not meant to be taken "literally". But since it seems that this is what's happened, let me try to make my point now in straight language. I agree with everyone who believes that our relations with India should be based on equality, reciprocity, mutual trust and respect. I think it's useless, untrue and idiotic for Nepalis to think we are in some way "superior" to Indians, and vice versa. That said, my problem with this article is the manner in which the writer argues that Nepal's "political class" should immediately fulfill India's "security concerns", as if we don't have any of our own! We are currently in a situation where Nepali citizens are probably *most insecure* in our *entire* history. So the first and foremost duty of our "political class' is to ensure security to our own citizens before any resources of our Police, Army or Intelligence agencies are used to fulfill foreign countries' demands (including China's). Prashant's advocacy for India is all the more hypocritical when we consider that India supported and nourished a 10-year long bloody insurgency in our country resulting in 16,000 deaths and a hopelessly destabilized state now. Where was our media/journalists/intelligentsia then? Did our media establishment ever lobby the Indians to use their Army, Police and Intelligence to prevent the insurgents operating freely from their soil? (Not that I know of). Even now, it is open knowledge that India attempts to destabilize situations in the madhes. This writer has himself implied as much in another article. So why don't our journos lobby the Indians to stop destabilizing our country and harming our citizens' security? Is it unreasonable for me to expect that Nepali journalists should first try to lobby for their own countrymen's safety, security, and interests before lobbying for that of foreigners? Is it 'ultra-nationalist' to question this kind of 'prabritti' among our media class? My simple first point is that our government and security organs' first priority should be security of our own citizens. Only after that, if we still have time and resources remaining, should they be expended for fulfilling the "security concerns" of others. I request our journos to advocate along this line to our "political class" first.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 2:29 PM NST

21. Satya Nepali (2)
Secondly, Prashant writes: "The sovereignty argument is shallow given how Nepali politicians lobby with their Indian counterparts and even bureaucrats for a range of favours, from becoming PM to getting one's son admission in a medical college." So does this mean that we Nepalis have no right to think of ourselves as a sovereign nation just because our venal politicians act in shameless ways?! How ridiculous! Prashant should ask himself who put these politicians in power first of all? He knows very well that India plays all sorts of games including providing financing for parties to ensure that politicians subservient to them become the ministers. Even unelected politicians have become ministers now due to India's intervention. India itself does what it can to ensure that such idiotic and venal people get to power so they can apply maximum leverage on them. But does this mean that the ordinary Nepali has no right to feel 'sovereign'? Instead of equating the issue of national sovereignty to the venality of politicians, and hurting the ordinary Nepali's sentiments, wouldn't it be better for Prashant to do an exposé on which Nepali politicians have sent their sons and daughters to various colleges in this way? Such transparency would then put both politicians and Indians on a backfoot. It would surely help in ensuring that both politicians and India would desist from such kind of embarrassing and corrupt behavior. Is it too much to ask Prashant to advocate for complete transparency in the various scholarships that various embassies offer to Nepali students? Why doesn't Prashant, as a journalist, engage himself in this kind of journalism that could help check corruption in our country? ..or has he himself gained some favors from politicians and India and therefore needs to stay mum on specifics?
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 2:30 PM NST

22. Satya Nepali (3)
Thirdly, I'd like to draw attention to the widely repeated term, India's "security concerns". Now, what exactly are these? As far as I know, Nepal has never posed any kind of security threat to India; no, not even in the "ugra-rastrabadi" days of the Panchayat. Did Nepal take sides in the India-China war in the 60s? Has Nepal ever supported any anti-Indian terrorist or separatist group ever? Nepal has done nothing even for the Gorkhaland movement, which must be close to many Nepalis' hearts. Fact is, Nepal has never done anything to harm or endanger India's security ever. (The same, however, is not true in reverse mind you; but let's not go there now..) So given our completely peaceful, harmless role vis-
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 2:33 PM NST

23. Satya Nepali (3 again)
[NT, your site has problems accepting dashes, an important element for punctuation and spelling, and few other important special characters. In this case it did not accept the word vis-a-vis. Can you please rectify this soon? Here's part (3) again] ..Thirdly, I'd like to draw attention to the widely repeated term, India's "security concerns". Now, what exactly are these? As far as I know, Nepal has never posed any kind of security threat to India; no, not even in the "ugra-rastrabadi" days of the Panchayat. Did Nepal take sides in the India-China war in the 60s? Has Nepal ever supported any anti-Indian terrorist or separatist group ever? Nepal has done nothing even for the Gorkhaland movement, which must be close to many Nepalis' hearts. Fact is, Nepal has never done anything to harm or endanger India's security ever. (The same, however, is not true in reverse mind you; but let's not go there now..) So given our completely peaceful, harmless role with regard to India, is it justified to question why precisely India is so paranoid, and to ask what exactly are these "security concerns"? And if these "security concerns" are not openly clarified, is it unjustified of anyone to feel suspicious that in the name of "security" all India is trying to do is gain *more power* in Nepal? In fact, at the moment, Nepal is far more vulnerable from security threats arising from India than the other way around. There have been allegations that a lot of disturbances in the Madhes, including the notorious Kapilvastu and Nepalganj incidents were infiltrated by criminal elements from across the border. Will it be 'jingoistic' of me to ask our journalists to give us the truth about Indian involvement in these incidents? And if true, will it be 'anti-Indian' of me to ask our journos to lobby both our government and the Indian one to ensure that such cross-border criminality and communalism isn't exported to Nepal? I have more points of course. But by now I've written more than the author himself. I rest my case.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 3:59 PM NST

24. Suresh
In my view India most of the security concern are security concern for us too for example security at airport how weak it is everyone of us know that how much our tourism will lose if any thing happened there why our security agency don think about that if security is good there no country will ask for any air marshal .other issues like fake currency industry operating from Nepal that's also is not only damaging India economy but also Nepalese economy too.if India and Nepal co operate n have good policy in border security we can solve problem like trafficking of women from Nepal , drugs,(as drug dealer we Nepalese already have good reputation in world),dacoit etc.so I think indian security concern in Nepal are Nepalese issue we should have been able to solve them before any body ask us to do
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 4:21 PM NST

25. Rodya,Pune
As of exposure , please let me share it with you : 1)Mahendra Raya Yadav : His eldest son Anil Adhikari(changed surnames when the tide was opposite as of today) at Banaras Hindu University(BHU).The uncertainty with his ministerial berth is so intense that Anil accepted an MD seat with gynaecology , a field generally male MD aspirants avoid.His other two sons are also in Indian scholarship in Varanasi and Banglore.No wonder then Mahendra Yadav is inducted in committees of strategic importance like the Special Committee formed to supervise the mangement of Maoists fighters. 2)Bidhya Bhandari : Her daughter is in AIIMS , New Delhi. 3)Madhav Kumar Nepal:His children are also in Indian scholarship. 4)Hridiyesh Tripathi: His daughter is doing MBBS at BHU. 5)Jaya Prakash Gupta:His relative,perhaps cousin, who practised medicine in Pokhara is now studying MD in dermatology at BHU. Any more buddy? So is any debate meaningful? Are we not sold out ? And ask any MBBS aspirant in KAthmandu to which leaders' sons and daughters the Indian Embassy MBBS seats are going this year or next year!! There is a queue man ... I wonder if Prashant Jha has a honest and independent soul !!! Kudos to articles, journalism, debate in Nepal . A country so ********** up ,it's diffcult to imagine an awakening ...
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 6:40 PM NST

26. Nirmal
Nepali people never been a threat to Indian Security except of those who speaks many languages like Prachanda. But some element has been threat to both Nepal and Indian. Nepal has to keep close eyes to people who blows up bridges and killed innocent people and some who put pressure cookers bombs in Churches who are train and conspired by fundamentalist. Tarai has been marred by criminal element from the boarder states. Nepal also in close watch from Indian authority to because of our chaotic political enviornment. It has been safe heaven for criminal of counterfit Indian currency. Easy assess to highjacker because of easy access of passport to foreign nationals. We are very concern of Chinese security. We watch every Tibetan in Kathmandu. We nabbed anyone crosses the boarder and handover to Chinese authority as much we can. We must be sincere and honest to and provide all the help for our neabour's security. If neighbor are secure they we can do business without being suspecious. We are losing hand with both neighbor simple we live paranoia. India can put its air marshal wheather we agree or not. These individuals are disguised. Believe or not they are there as a attendents. Is not it wise for us a neighbor let us know that who coming, then to have disguised. It is a open and civilized request. If we say no they will do anyway. Isreal airlines most heavely guarded airlines wheather other country agree or not equipped with air marshal. They may not say it but they are capable to do any thing it has to face on the board. It is wise for us to know all the individuals who are comming then forcing them the do in disguise way.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 8:24 PM NST

27. nirmal S.
I think people are distorting the truth. Our international air port is poorly guarded. Airlines flying in and out from our airport could be a target of International terrorists. These terrorists do not discriminate wheather it is Indian,Nepali, Chinese, American or Brizilian. Indian authority like to place their airmarshal in its property to protect passenger for possible attack like twin towers. Indian authority ( not Indian's there are 1 billion) are not asking Nepal to think about Indian security and ignoring its own security. Indian bringing this issue they have responsibility to its citizen. I am sure there is discussion in higher level how to address this issue. This is an international issue. We have accept certain provision that internation community is doing if we like connected with other world. Believe or not there is Air marshal in Singapore airlines. It is disguised. Indian's are disclosing it. It is good to know that they are doing it and want Neapl authority to accept it. There could be two thousand interpretation on this process, but Indian has other option that is to use disguised air marshals. I would rather like to know then not to know.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 8:46 PM NST

28. Free Willy
Its a pity that we understand the security concerns of India in such clarity but what about our own ? Does India realise that unless Nepal can stand on its own, it can never be able to deal with the security issues that can be of concern not only to itself but also for India ? However, for Nepal to stand on its own feet, India needs to realise that it cannot play manipulative role, within the borders of Nepal. Divide thy neighbours and be secure policy will only backblast. Although, I cannot produce evidence, it can be easily guessed that who has the key to Madhesi uprise. There are genuine grievances but not unsolvable, and the problem gets worse when its not the Nepali Madhesi leaders who do the real political bargaining ! If they play the games of realpolitik then thats what they will have. Its not defence minister who should signal what Nepal's security situation should look like, its their foreign minister. Nepal is not part of India.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 10:42 PM NST

29. Battisputali (1)
SatyaNepali, I'll try to make an educated guess about the three principle reasons for India's Security Concerns in Nepal:- 1.External Factor:- a. India's concern regarding China. - This is what Nehru said in his speech to the Indian Parliament in 1950 and it still holds true today in how India perceives its security interests in Nepal, "Our interest in the internal conditions of Nepal...frankly...because of the developments..in China and Tibet...we cannot allow [the Himalayas] to be penetrated because it is the principle barrier to India. Much as we appreciate the independence of Nepal, we cannot allow anything to go wrong in Nepal or permit that barrier to be crossed or weakened, because that would be a risk to our own security." - Nations do not like unpredictability. The degree of intervention lies in inverse proportion to predicatability. Therefore, Indian intervention has increased as predictability has decreased within Nepal due to various reasons (Violence, Prevading sense of anarchy, consequetive weak governments) - Third, if India doesn't intervene, China will. It is better to create predictablity by controlling events by oneself rather than allowing your vital sphere of interest to go into the hands of a competitor.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 11:55 PM NST

30. Battisputali (2)
2. Internal Factors:- a. Decisionmaking:- - Support for Maoists increased when Congress depended upon Indian lefties to hold on to power in India. It decreased when Congress did not need the lefties in UPA's second government. b. India's Maoist Problem - India's domestic troubles with Maoism in what it calls its "heartland" and the perceived connnection with Nepal's Maoism. c. Domestic Security gap:- - Since the Bombay terrorist attacks, India has embarked on an ambitious rehaul of its security policy. This reorganization is bound to have an effect on relations with Nepal because of the open border, and instability in Nepal.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 11:55 PM NST

31. Battisputali (3)
Conclusion: From a Nepali perspective, the variables that are most critical are in heriarchical order: 1. Nepali domestic political stability. 2. Great-power tensions between India, and China, and 3. Domestic Indian Politics. Mitigation: Great-power tensions can't be changed due to the limitating nature of geopolitics. The possibility of intervention in the short-term can be influenced by: 1. Promulgating constitution to create predictability in Nepal. 2. Understanding domestic Indian politics and learning to act according to who is in power in South-Block.
Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 11:56 PM NST

32. Arthur
Battisputali, your analysis is interesting but your two conclusions contradict each other. Yes, agreeing on a constitution (and finalizing the peace process) would create predictability in Nepal and help reduce India's concerns with the consequences of Nepali domestric instability. (It might also help end such ridiculous Nepali behaviour as the anti-Maoists refusing air marshalls in order to look less dependent on India, after the Maoist Minister for Civil Aviation, Hsila Yami, approved them). But no, learning to act according to who is in power in South Block can only perpetuate the present instability. It results in such things as signing a peace agreement when Indians favour peace and then refusing to carry out its terms (eg democratization of the Nepal Army and integration of the two armies) when Indian policy changes. What is the point of "promulgating" a constitution if in fact Nepal is not governed according to its own constitution but has to act according to who is in power in South Block? What would such a Constitution actually mean. What kind of politicians would be prepared to pretend to govern under such a fake constitution. Only people like MKN! How is it even possible to promulgate a Constitution that requires a two-thirds majority when South Block wants the largest party, with far more than one-third of the necessary votes to be in opposition? Surely logic should make the second conclusion "2. Implement the promulgated Constitution, including civilian supremacy over the Nepal Army instead of permitting senior officers to resist the peace agreement when they have backing from South Block"? A third more general conclusion could be added "3.End the tradition of promulgating things and not implementing them." This tradition naturally implies domestic instability, which also affects the neighbours.
Posted on: 02 FEB 2010 | 5:56 PM NST

33. Battisputali
Nice catch Arthur. Implementation is a far better word (action) than promulgation. :)
Posted on: 02 FEB 2010 | 9:21 PM NST

34. Battisputali
Also Arthur, I don't know if you can read Nepali or not but here is an article by Shailee Basnet on the diplomatic history between India and Nepal. Fascinating stuff: http://www.himalkhabar.com/news.php?id=3025
Posted on: 02 FEB 2010 | 11:39 PM NST

35. Budabaaje
It is quite clear that political party leaders are the puppets of India. India (and to some extent other countries like Pakistan) compete with each other to provide scholarhip and admission to the children of these leaders to different colleges. This makes the politicians loyal to India. These leaders also receive financial support from India so they can hire goons to carry out bandas and demonstrations. Not only politicians, India probably provides such favors to leaders of media and civil society too. The Palace was right in being suspicious of such leaders' commitment to Nepal and Nepalis. When king G was in power, the government tried to make the people wary of India's games in Nepal. No one believed then. But now it is becoming clear that they were right after all. I repeat. Monarchy was only trying to do good for the country. Gyane made few mistakes but he was largely on the right track. Monarchy has been unjustly punished for Gyanendra's few mistakes. Monarchy has to be restored.
Posted on: 03 FEB 2010 | 6:08 AM NST

36. Arthur
Thanks Battisputali - but unfortunately I cannot read Nepali at all. Hopefully your link will be useful to others here.
Posted on: 03 FEB 2010 | 12:23 PM NST

37. SN
Seen the news abt Girija requesting the Maoists to stop their anti-India activities? Goes to prove the same point being made in this forum: Our politicians are far more responsive to India's concerns and wishes than they are to the Nepali ppl. I don't remember any time when Girija-bau pressured Maoists on behalf of any Nepali company. An Indian company is just touched, and its problem is raised in the High Level Political Mech, no less! The most important/influential Nepali political leader is fast as lightening to defend Indian interests, while Nepalis keep sufferring for years and years
Posted on: 03 FEB 2010 | 6:35 PM NST

38. SN
..absolutely pathetic! Goes to show how much 'kabja' India has over our "loktantrik leaders". I say why are the Nepali people paying for this old man's medical treatments and his daughter's splurges? Can the Indian company pay those bills too please?
Posted on: 03 FEB 2010 | 3:21 AM NST

39. Indian
Look , cooperation in securtiy is not something new between nations that are supposedly friendly to each other, share common cultural and faternal ties. Why is Indian's request to Nepal for protecting its security such a big issue here. Look at US and UK, UK called to US for help when the Germans invaded, US responded. Young US soldiers died on foreign shores to protect a regime which they did not even like to begin with. Nepal is a soverign country and as a soverign country has to take a stand on its own- a strategic descision as to what it wants- is it willing to say openly that it supports democracy, and human rights and is against terrorist attacks be it against Nepal or India or it wants to be seen as a sly little guy who just played Igao to hide its own impotence. [This may hurt but if a people are conficent than they are more open, do not get slighted so easily and respect others as much as they themselves.] How come if Nepal and india claim that they have special and friendly relations, than Nepal is so touchy about reassuring India on its security neeeds. After all Indian planes are hijacked from Nepal, fake indian currency comes in from Nepal, jehadis and smugglers make Nepal their base. Also when you throttle Tibetan protestors [who are mostly peaceful] at behest of China, you don't seem too preturbed, but when it comes to handing over foreign terrorists who plan to attack India to Indian security, then it becomes an issue of 'soverignity'. You allow Chinese firms to work in Nepal, own hotels and even prostitution rings, but indian companies that work on your hydropower plants (and with 12 hr power cuts in Kathmandu) are not desireable. Who are you trying to fool? People in India see this and despite the affection that they may have for people of Nepal, they are forced to ask, are we dealing with a friendly country here. See a bomb going off in Mumbai or Delhi kills not just Indian- there are 65 lakh Nepali working in India, they get hurt too. And also think of the future scenarios, the snakes that you nurture will eventually turn and bite you- do you not think Nepal will suffer if the Jehadi become strong here. As two democratic societies Indina and Nepal cannot have dissimilar security goals- that has perhaps been the reason for India's continued support to democratic movement in Nepal. But the present discourse in Nepal, especially in the educated elite classes, those who were already previliged and perhaps stand to lose more as democracy becomes entrenched in Nepal, suggests that they never really wanted a true democracy, and therefore blame India for the loss of their exhalted position. As a soverign country Nepal has to take a stand, it cannot keep vacillating. If Nepal is really so concerned that india is out to cook its goose then just the Indians that they are not welcome and should look at their own means for securing their flank. This will demonstrate to all that Nepal actually wants India's ill and that the resentment is not because of the percieved injustice to Nepal by India, but because Nepali resent india's size and its developing economy and rejoice when Indian blood is spilled. We will feel bad about this beacuse we expected better from our friends in North but we are capable of taking care of our own security without Nepali support. Jai Pashupatinath ji
Posted on: 04 FEB 2010 | 9:25 AM NST

40. Nepali
Indian, I'm sorry I don't have time to reply to you in full. In short, the bottm-line is that it is NOT Nepal that is or ever has been a security threat to India, but India that has been so! Nepal has NEVER promoted any terrorist or any other dangerous act against India from its own soil. But your country supported and nourished a 10-year long Maoist inusrgency, which essentially was terrorism! As a matter of policy! If you're tempted to call that insurgency a fight for freedom or sth, well, we could easily say the same about your Naxalites too (or any terrorist org for that matter). How would you like it if we offered safe haven to your Naxalite guerillas, sheltered their leaders, and enabled them to take over your country?! That's what you have done to us in the name of friendship, special relationship, security concerns etc etc! Yes, the US supported the UK and so on, bt the UK did not promote a civil war in the US either (in the 1900s)! So that's what all your smooth words up here are worth. Fact of the matter is, India has a double-faced, fork-tongued policy in Nepal. Says all the nice things (like you're doing up here) and does sth else. If you don't realize this, then your foreign dept and intelligence agency are cunning enough to hide it from you. We Nepalis have no wish and no record of endangering India (be careful before you accuse us of doing so!). ONE plane was hijacked from Ktm ONCE. Not planeS! (Exaggerating is another trick in the Indian arsenal, isn't it?) Planes get hijacked from even the best airports in the world. Where were the 9/11 planes hijacked from? I fully agree security in TIA needs to be improved. But that one isolated incident doesn't amount to Nepal having hostile intentions towards India as you try to make it sound. As far as I know, no one died due to that hijack. Indian policy in Nepal is responsible for 16,000 deaths! So who really is the threat? And don't go blaming Mumbai on Nepal. If you are incapable of building better relations with your Muslim neighbor, that's your weakness, not our fault. Lastly, you must be speaking from experience when you say "the snakes that you nurture will eventually turn and bite you". Nepal has not nurtured any snakes. It's you who has. The Maoists who're going around waving flags in the borders and threatening Indian companies are "your snakes"! ..as were the LTTE who blew up Rajiv Gandhi! It's India's habit of nurturing snakes, not ours. SO if you desire security and good relationship form your neighbors, start with changing this habit of yours! Instead of lecturing us, get honest and try to rectify yourself first!!
Posted on: 04 FEB 2010 | 3:15 PM NST

41. Free Willy
Mr Indian, I admire your view regarding peaceful ties between India and Nepal. The Indian people in general are friendly due to the culture we share BUT its the realist notion of the politicians in India, always coiled up in deep seated security dilemma, that spurt the venom due to their insecure attitude. Please do not talk about snakes, we all feel that Maoists were reared in your backyard, labeling them terrorists and then when peace did happen, boasting that it was in Indian ground that such secret meeting took place. Similarly, your attitude in sending the police/agents into Nepal and snatching people that your government felt was threat to India, without any consent or prior coordination with Nepalese Government, that has pissed people here. Such regional hegemonic attitude only begets hatred, despite being the closest. Nepal is not Sikkim, neither it is Bhutan, that government there so much likes it to be. We do not have any interests in rearing Al Qaeda in our land, but such attitude only corners the people here into extreme position. I know it is stupid of Maoists to have resisted the Indian hydro project, but if they can mobilize so many people against the Indians, despite knowing the fact it is in our loss not to have the project done, I think it'll be wise for Indians too, to swallow the ego and introspect !
Posted on: 04 FEB 2010 | 3:44 AM NST

42. jange
Mr. Nepali- It wasn't ten years of insurgency. It was 10 years of murder loot and extortiom. If you accept that it was anything else then you really have no cause to complain about what the Indians have done.
Posted on: 05 FEB 2010 | 6:38 AM NST

43. out in Exile
This comment has been removed by the moderator.
Posted on: 05 FEB 2010 | 7:25 AM NST

44. Indian
Dear nepali Your king wanted to accede to India in 1950. As almost 500 princly states did. It was the 'done thing' at the time and I can only speculate what would have happened if Nehru had agreed. Anyway that is history, just to remind ourselves where we come from. Look people in India have no desire to occupy Nepal, we have enough problems of our own and all most of us want is to have a safe environment where we can go about bettring our lives. We want to prosper and I am sure there are many like me in India who owuld vote against any government that tried to take over a friendly neighbour. hell we do not even want to fight with pakistan- just be left in peace. Why nepal feels threatened is your problem, India has never attacked anyone and I do believe that we are too soft to even think in those lines. If you Nepali are concerned about cultural invasion and being swamped by India economically then again that is your problem. Look we in India went through the cultural debate when sattelite TV with hollywood content came to our drawing rooms in 1990s- but then we matured and today this is not an issue anymore. You guys have a great culture especially in Newar and really dont need to be so concerned but still, if you feel like it than ban Indian fils and hindi songs- I guess we can live with that. Economically well you have to accept Nepals rather precarious geographical situation. its not like you have the best possible location and as energy costs rise, you will find doing business with India to be much cheaper. So lets cooperate, in every field security or commercial or hydropower- put your pride behind you and take a pragmatic look at things. Even in security Indian has requested your assistance wheter it be for deploying armed guards on its planes or help in nabbing terrorists who hide in Nepal. Now you know verywell that if like US (and Russia) India decided to plant guards on its planes without telling you or started sending in its commandos (some of them are Gorkha- and Indian ones not from Nepal) to covertly catch people in Nepal then what will you do. Hell your government is not in aposition to provide healthcare to you so can it really prevent a rouge India from doing what it wants. (well in India things are not that rosy, esp healthcare but this is more for comparision). Do you sincerely believe that you would be better off with Chinese- look at Tibet, look at Myanmar and I have a feeling that pacifists as we are we would eventually have to tackle a hegemonistic China at sometime in future. And yes when I say snakes I mean the ones India nurtured too. i fought the LTTE- they were poison mean and godd riddance. But the fact is that we can learn form India's mistakes. Inda was perhaps big and strong enough to survive those bites but others may be smaller and feel the pain more. Look at PAkistan- its hate of India is eating it up. And dont be so sensetive to criticism- no one in India beleives that ordinary Nepali harbour any ill towards India, on the contrary. but if the leaders here are seen to be doing something which is clearly detrimental to India's security, well even I as an ordinary citizen would support the government in trying to stop that. Nepal is not a security threat for India- but it can if it is in turmoil and has competing interests can become one. As long as Nepali dont get up and say hey, india is a friend and we dont want you guys creating trouble for us then I think India would keep trying to ensure its interests here. Ant lastly I think you are related to the former King. Really any form of democracy however flawed is better than a monarchy or dictatorshi. But its your call. jai pashupatinathji
Posted on: 05 FEB 2010 | 9:18 AM NST

45. Prem
If security is the concern of India, it is the same of China. Why not we play a strategic card with both of them and milk them simultaneously? Listen guys, both economies are thriving and both cannot afford to have slums in their neighborhood. Milk India, milk China and build your own country. Does any of our political leader has the guts and brain to do it? Do not expect anything from the 3 Nepali Idiots - Girija, Makune and Pushpa Kamal however. Dear Nepali diaspora, please come back. A lot of credit goes to the NRI community who came back and contributed to building their country.
Posted on: 05 FEB 2010 | 9:42 AM NST

46. Indian

See I told you that terror in India will hurt you too.

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Kin+of+Pune+blast+victim+in+an++unconscious+state+back+home&NewsID=227897


Posted on: 16 FEB 2010 | 7:11 PM NST

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