Bodies
of Maoist rebels recovered on Mar 1 in West Nepal. At least 70
died
India Will
Resolve Nepal Standoff in a Few Days, says Nepali Diplomat
By
Arun Rajnath
NEW
DELHI, March 2: India is now seriously considering to resolve
the standoff with Nepal in a few days, probably before the next
SAARC Summit due in April, a senior Nepali diplomat confirmed
to the South Asia Tribune in New Delhi.
Press and Culture Officer of the
Nepal Embassy, Jyoti Prasad Adhikari told this correspondent the
Nepalese Ambassador, Karan Dhoj Adhikari, called on the Indian
Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, recently. King Gyanendra’s
special envoy, Sharad Chandra Shah, also met Shyam Saran on Sunday,
he said, adding that Shah’s visit was not official. They
all discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral issues,
including the present standoff.
Mr. Adhikari said: “The
King has never said that elections in Nepal could not be held
before three years. He needs at least 100 days or more to control
things. After that the clear picture may emerge.”
“Talks with the Indian authorities
are going on and things will be clear in few days but definitely
before the SAARC Summit,” he added.
When asked about the suspension
of the military aid and its possible aftermath, Mr. Adhikari said:
“Military aid is not being provided on a daily basis. But
to cope with the Maoist forces, it is necessary for both Nepal
and India to resume it at the earliest.”
“India
is also facing the problem of terrorism, including Naxalites.
This has become a global concern, and everybody should help us
in this regard. We hope India will reconsider its decision, and
resume the military aid,” Adhikari said.
A
top Indian Government official told the South Asia Tribune
that India is also diplomatically eager to resolve the standoff
with Nepal as soon as possible. Officials are trying to reach
some compromise. The meetings between Nepalese Ambassador with
Shyam Saran and Sharad Charan Shah with Saran were steps in this
direction.
Though officials of the Ministry
of External Affairs were not available to comment, yet sources
maintained that Nepalese Ambassador Karan Dhoj Adhikari and special
envoy Sharad Chandra Shah both urged Shyam Saran that India should
be “responsive to Kathmandu’s concerns” and
Nepal needs some time to overcome this difficult phase.
Sources say that Shyam Saran,
who was India’s Ambassador to Nepal before becoming the
Foreign Secretary, explained to them the position of India and
the need for immediate restoration of democracy. But he also assured
them that India would consider the pleas of Nepal with greater
understanding and try to resolve the standoff at the earliest.
Sources
say that New Delhi still supports “multi-party democracy
and constitutional monarchy enshrined in Nepal’s constitution
as the twin pillars of political stability in the country,”
and Shyam Saran has reportedly expressed this during his meetings
with Karan Dhoj Adhikari and Sharad Charan Shah.
Mr. Saran is also believed to
have urged the Nepali dignitaries to initiate political dialogues
with the underground leaders besides releasing some more Nepali
leaders, at the earliest.
Meanwhile,
diplomat and former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, G. Parthasarathy
has also urged the Indian Government to resolve the standoff with
Nepal. While talking to the South Asia Tribune, he said:
“The SAARC Summit cannot be postponed sine die, and before
that India and Nepal have to come to a point where they can meet.”
When asked about the theory being
floated in some quarters that if India alienates Nepal, it could
form an anti-India faction with Pakistan and Bangladesh within
the SAARC, Mr. Parthasarathy said: “They can achieve nothing
by doing so because India is the major partner in the SAARC. Without
India, the SAARC has no relevance. But India being a major partner,
it has big responsibilities too. And it should not keep the Summit
pending for a long time.”
“When Gen. Musharraf came
to power in Pakistan, the Indian leadership had denounced his
act of usurping power. But later, India held dialogue with Gen.
Musharraf, Mr. Vajpayee shook hands with the General. The question
is who is your counterpart, and you cannot ignore your counterpart
for a long time,” he added.
Mr. Parthasarathy said: “Our
Prime Minister has to meet the King one day. There is no other
option. Go and meet him and tell him why did you suspend military
aid, and how important is the restoration of democracy in Nepal.”
On the other hand, people who
are directly associated with the internal security concerns feel
differently. They do not have perfunctory attitude like that of
diplomats. Strategic expert and retired Lt. Gen. B. S. Malik says
that India has to choose if restoration of democracy is more important
than elimination of Maoists.
He says: “First of all,
India should have not interfered in the affairs of Nepal as it
is its domestic matter. Secondly, if Maoists gain ground in Nepal,
it would be something very bad, and you just could not handle
the situation. The Peoples War Group (PWG) and Maoist Communist
Center (MCC) are playing havoc in Bihar. The situation is bound
to worsen if India does not resume military aid to Nepal.”
Mr. Malik says: “India should
link its military aid to the issue of development. This is what
I suggested to the Indian Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran. For
instance the matter of water has been pending for a long time.
Execute the hydroelectric projects. Nepal would get money and
India would get water.”
“In the villages, there
is no development. Therefore, people are going against the Monarchy
and in favor of the Maoist forces. India has to understand how
serious the problem of Maoists is. You can withdraw military support
if the Nepali government does not invest in the development programs,”
he added.
He says that India should resolve
the standoff with Nepal as soon as possible as “India cannot
be secure alone. India cannot be prosperous alone.” He further
says: “Ultimately and despite all sanctions, India has to
provide arms to Nepal. Every country needs minimum requirement
of security, and it is free to get it from anywhere. Indian authorities
must realize it.”
