02-08-2005, 07:53 PM
Nepal seeks Indian troops against Maoists
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Nepal seeks Indian troops against Maoists
8 January 2005: <b>In his meeting with Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee at the headquarters of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in Kathmandu, RNA chief General Pyar Jung Thapa hinted at invoking the 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty to demand Indian troops deployment against Maoist insurgents. </b>
Under the terms of the treaty and secret annexures, either country has to come to the otherâs defence in an emergency, and <b>during the 1971 war, the RNA secretly fought against the Pakistan army, and when Kargil Gurkha casualties reached Kathmandu to public protests, the then King Birendra was forced to concede compulsions under the agreement. </b>
Top <b>sources said that Mukherjee,</b> after consultations with New Delhi, <b>told the RNA chief that all military assistance would be provided to Nepal to fight the insurgents, and that in an emergency, even troops could be deployed, but he urged with General Thapa to make troops deployment the last option, </b>and not to go public with the demand at any stage, because India was honour-bound to the treaty.
Officials said that General Thapa was not convinced with Mukherjeeâs plea, and he will conceivably report his misgivings to King Gyanendra, but <b>India finds itself embarrassed</b> to come to the military aid of a dictatorial regime it has strongly condemned, <b>but going by the RNA's glorious past contribution, it cannot refuse Nepalâs request for troops, if and when they are formally made.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
To call the UPA bluff, Nepal will ask for troops against the Maoists and that could unravel the UPA. Lets see.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Nepal seeks Indian troops against Maoists
8 January 2005: <b>In his meeting with Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee at the headquarters of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in Kathmandu, RNA chief General Pyar Jung Thapa hinted at invoking the 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty to demand Indian troops deployment against Maoist insurgents. </b>
Under the terms of the treaty and secret annexures, either country has to come to the otherâs defence in an emergency, and <b>during the 1971 war, the RNA secretly fought against the Pakistan army, and when Kargil Gurkha casualties reached Kathmandu to public protests, the then King Birendra was forced to concede compulsions under the agreement. </b>
Top <b>sources said that Mukherjee,</b> after consultations with New Delhi, <b>told the RNA chief that all military assistance would be provided to Nepal to fight the insurgents, and that in an emergency, even troops could be deployed, but he urged with General Thapa to make troops deployment the last option, </b>and not to go public with the demand at any stage, because India was honour-bound to the treaty.
Officials said that General Thapa was not convinced with Mukherjeeâs plea, and he will conceivably report his misgivings to King Gyanendra, but <b>India finds itself embarrassed</b> to come to the military aid of a dictatorial regime it has strongly condemned, <b>but going by the RNA's glorious past contribution, it cannot refuse Nepalâs request for troops, if and when they are formally made.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
To call the UPA bluff, Nepal will ask for troops against the Maoists and that could unravel the UPA. Lets see.