External meddling in Nepal
Yuba Nath Lamsal
A nation is akin to a human body. When human body gets weak, bugs and bacteria start attacking and ultimately ruin the body leading to death. So is the life of a nation. When the country is weak, vested interest groups try to take advantage from the frail state and play their ill-motivated games to serve their petty interests. In such a situation, external forces find an ample ground and opportunity to meddle and interfere in the internal affairs. The situation gets further worse when the domestic elements collaborate with the external forces. Its outcome is clear: the country turns into a playground of external powers and internal forces helpless who have to be mute spectators.
We have several examples of such cases in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In our own Asian continent, Lebanon was once the victim so of tussle and interference of outside forces. Several countries were fighting proxy wars in Lebanon to control over this tiny state in the Middle East. But things have changed significantly in Lebanon and this country has witnessed more stability now. Similar was the case with Cambodia when different forces had been fighting with the backing of external powers. Cambodia too has now been stabilized and foreigners are no more been allowed to play their games in this East Asian nation. Afghanistan was a worst case as it turned out to be a battle ground of superpowers in 1979s and 80s. This fierce struggle for control over Afghan land came to an end following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Soviet empire. However, situation did not improve in Afghanistan even after superpower rivalry ended. After the withdrawal of Russian troops, several tribal groups emerged and they established their own area of rule in different parts of Afghanistan. As the situation deteriorated, the Taliban group emerged out of the political vacuum and imposed its theocratic rule which denied all universally accepted democratic rights and principles of Afghan people. Under the Taliban rule, Afghanistan turned into a pariah state and was totally isolated from the international community. Alienated from the international community, Taliban tuned Afghanistan into a safe haven for international terrorists like Al Queda and others.
As a result, the international community had to intervene in Afghanistan to flush out terrorists. This multilateral operation still continues under the leadership of the United States. If we are to give an example of a failed and unsuccessful country, Afghanistan comes in the frontline not only in Asia but in the world as a whole. This is an example how a country is ruined when foreigners are allowed to interfere and manipulate. A section invited Russians to intervene militarily whereas the United States and the western world came in support of the groups that opposed the Soviet presence and intervention.
Even now foreigners are deciding the destiny of Afghanistan. Two parliamentary elections were held in Afghanistan since the overthrow of Taliban regime. In both the elections, Hamid Karzai's group was declared elected. Although Karzai is the prime minister, he has a little say in the decision-making of Afghanistan. He is simply a pawn in the hand of foreigners. Recently, some fissures have appeared between the Karzai regime and the western countries on certain issues. However, Karzai is helpless and cannot do anything against the will of the western countries especially the US-led NATO force. This is the situation a country is destined to face when foreigners are allowed to intervene. Although the intention of the United States may not be to occupy Afghanistan and remain there forever, circumstances have created the situation that the United States would not be able to withdraw from Afghanistan even if it so wants. Once the US-led NATO force leaves Afghanistan, Taliban would out power Karzai regime and recapture power. The United States has fallen into the trap created by it in Afghanistan. The United States has perhaps come to realize this situation and has in a mood to reconcile with Taliban. Under this strategy, collaboration and co-existence between the Karzai regime and moderate Talibans has been mooted to jointly fight against the hardcore Talibans and Islamic fundamentalists. This would pave the way for the NATO forces to end their operation in Afghanistan. Recently, Prime Minister Karzai has offered an olive branch to Taliban, perhaps, with advice from the United States. This is an indicative of the fact that the United States has changed its strategy in South Asia and also in its war on terror. But it is still uncertain if the new strategy would really work.
The present situation of Nepal is similar to that of Afghanistan in the past. Nepal is now passing through a transitional phase. Transitional period is always chaotic, unstable and painful. In such a situation external forces often try to interfere. However, an able and far-sighted leadership manages to keep the nation out of external interference and steer the country ahead towards peace, stability and prosperity.
But such a leadership could not emerge in Nepal. Whoever came to power gave continuity to the old game—get-rich-quick—and sucked the nation and its docile people. Power became their ultimate goal and they did anything and everything for their personal and partisan interests. The kings exploited during absolute monarchical regime. And parties, too, followed suit in both monarchical and republican democracy. Their personal and partisan interest is the primary concern whereas the country and the people became secondary. As a result, Nepal is currently in the worst political crisis and instability in its history.
The parties and leaders are primarily responsible for the present sorry state of the country. Taking advantage of the fluid and unstable situation, foreigners are poking nose in our internal affairs and interfering in Nepal's politics. The most callous is our southern neighbor— India— which has been directly and openly interfering in our internal affairs. The Indian interference is more blatant at present. The country has not been able to elect a new prime minister even more than three months due to the Indian interference and meddling in Nepal's politics.
India has always been trying to portray a bogy of national threat. But it cannot be understood why Nepal is a threat to India. Nepal does not match with India in terms of size, population, military strength and economic power. New Delhi often raises the issue of Pakistani and Chinese activities in Nepal which relates to threat to Indian's security. This is also totally illogical and absurd. Pakistan has a long common border with India. If it wants to create any kind of trouble to Indian, it can do it from its own soil using common border with India. Pakistan does not need to use the third country, with which it does not have common border, to harm India. Moreover, Nepal has always asked India to pinpoint what exactly Pakistan has done to harm India using Nepal's soil. But India has not been able to come up with concrete proofs of Pakistani activities. Failure to give evidence is a clear testimony that all Indian allegations and claims are false and fabricated.
So far as the Chinese activities are concerned, Beijing is well aware of Nepal's sensitivity. China has adopted quiet and cooperative diplomacy in the world including with its neighbors. China, too, shares border with India more than with Nepal. There has been border dispute between China and India. China has claimed its right over entire Arunachal Pradesh of India. Arunachal Pradesh was previously belonged to China but British colonial rulers captured it when China's central authority was weak. China wants this territory back but India has been occupying it forcibly. The 1962 war between China and India was over the disputed territories. But the territorial dispute has not yet been resolved. China is trying to resolve all issues with India peacefully and diplomatically and build friendly relationship. If China wants to harm India, it has all capabilities to do so from the border and it does not have to use Nepal's soil. So the security issue that India has raised is nothing other than its design to turn Nepal into another Sikkim or Bhutan.
If the present situation continues unabated, Nepal may turn into another Afghanistan. Indian interference has been so naked and blatant that it may invite other countries, too, to play their game in Nepal. Against this background, all Nepalese people, irrespective of ideology and political leaning, need to collectively fight against external meddling to defend our sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity. Unfortunately, some of our political parties are acting like the pawns in the hand of foreigners. One thing all should take into account is the fact that patriotic Nepali people get united whenever their independence, national unity and territorial integrity are at stake.
The writer can be reached at: yubanath@wlink.com.np
A nation is akin to a human body. When human body gets weak, bugs and bacteria start attacking and ultimately ruin the body leading to death. So is the life of a nation. When the country is weak, vested interest groups try to take advantage from the frail state and play their ill-motivated games to serve their petty interests. In such a situation, external forces find an ample ground and opportunity to meddle and interfere in the internal affairs. The situation gets further worse when the domestic elements collaborate with the external forces. Its outcome is clear: the country turns into a playground of external powers and internal forces helpless who have to be mute spectators.
We have several examples of such cases in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In our own Asian continent, Lebanon was once the victim so of tussle and interference of outside forces. Several countries were fighting proxy wars in Lebanon to control over this tiny state in the Middle East. But things have changed significantly in Lebanon and this country has witnessed more stability now. Similar was the case with Cambodia when different forces had been fighting with the backing of external powers. Cambodia too has now been stabilized and foreigners are no more been allowed to play their games in this East Asian nation. Afghanistan was a worst case as it turned out to be a battle ground of superpowers in 1979s and 80s. This fierce struggle for control over Afghan land came to an end following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Soviet empire. However, situation did not improve in Afghanistan even after superpower rivalry ended. After the withdrawal of Russian troops, several tribal groups emerged and they established their own area of rule in different parts of Afghanistan. As the situation deteriorated, the Taliban group emerged out of the political vacuum and imposed its theocratic rule which denied all universally accepted democratic rights and principles of Afghan people. Under the Taliban rule, Afghanistan turned into a pariah state and was totally isolated from the international community. Alienated from the international community, Taliban tuned Afghanistan into a safe haven for international terrorists like Al Queda and others.
As a result, the international community had to intervene in Afghanistan to flush out terrorists. This multilateral operation still continues under the leadership of the United States. If we are to give an example of a failed and unsuccessful country, Afghanistan comes in the frontline not only in Asia but in the world as a whole. This is an example how a country is ruined when foreigners are allowed to interfere and manipulate. A section invited Russians to intervene militarily whereas the United States and the western world came in support of the groups that opposed the Soviet presence and intervention.
Even now foreigners are deciding the destiny of Afghanistan. Two parliamentary elections were held in Afghanistan since the overthrow of Taliban regime. In both the elections, Hamid Karzai's group was declared elected. Although Karzai is the prime minister, he has a little say in the decision-making of Afghanistan. He is simply a pawn in the hand of foreigners. Recently, some fissures have appeared between the Karzai regime and the western countries on certain issues. However, Karzai is helpless and cannot do anything against the will of the western countries especially the US-led NATO force. This is the situation a country is destined to face when foreigners are allowed to intervene. Although the intention of the United States may not be to occupy Afghanistan and remain there forever, circumstances have created the situation that the United States would not be able to withdraw from Afghanistan even if it so wants. Once the US-led NATO force leaves Afghanistan, Taliban would out power Karzai regime and recapture power. The United States has fallen into the trap created by it in Afghanistan. The United States has perhaps come to realize this situation and has in a mood to reconcile with Taliban. Under this strategy, collaboration and co-existence between the Karzai regime and moderate Talibans has been mooted to jointly fight against the hardcore Talibans and Islamic fundamentalists. This would pave the way for the NATO forces to end their operation in Afghanistan. Recently, Prime Minister Karzai has offered an olive branch to Taliban, perhaps, with advice from the United States. This is an indicative of the fact that the United States has changed its strategy in South Asia and also in its war on terror. But it is still uncertain if the new strategy would really work.
The present situation of Nepal is similar to that of Afghanistan in the past. Nepal is now passing through a transitional phase. Transitional period is always chaotic, unstable and painful. In such a situation external forces often try to interfere. However, an able and far-sighted leadership manages to keep the nation out of external interference and steer the country ahead towards peace, stability and prosperity.
But such a leadership could not emerge in Nepal. Whoever came to power gave continuity to the old game—get-rich-quick—and sucked the nation and its docile people. Power became their ultimate goal and they did anything and everything for their personal and partisan interests. The kings exploited during absolute monarchical regime. And parties, too, followed suit in both monarchical and republican democracy. Their personal and partisan interest is the primary concern whereas the country and the people became secondary. As a result, Nepal is currently in the worst political crisis and instability in its history.
The parties and leaders are primarily responsible for the present sorry state of the country. Taking advantage of the fluid and unstable situation, foreigners are poking nose in our internal affairs and interfering in Nepal's politics. The most callous is our southern neighbor— India— which has been directly and openly interfering in our internal affairs. The Indian interference is more blatant at present. The country has not been able to elect a new prime minister even more than three months due to the Indian interference and meddling in Nepal's politics.
India has always been trying to portray a bogy of national threat. But it cannot be understood why Nepal is a threat to India. Nepal does not match with India in terms of size, population, military strength and economic power. New Delhi often raises the issue of Pakistani and Chinese activities in Nepal which relates to threat to Indian's security. This is also totally illogical and absurd. Pakistan has a long common border with India. If it wants to create any kind of trouble to Indian, it can do it from its own soil using common border with India. Pakistan does not need to use the third country, with which it does not have common border, to harm India. Moreover, Nepal has always asked India to pinpoint what exactly Pakistan has done to harm India using Nepal's soil. But India has not been able to come up with concrete proofs of Pakistani activities. Failure to give evidence is a clear testimony that all Indian allegations and claims are false and fabricated.
So far as the Chinese activities are concerned, Beijing is well aware of Nepal's sensitivity. China has adopted quiet and cooperative diplomacy in the world including with its neighbors. China, too, shares border with India more than with Nepal. There has been border dispute between China and India. China has claimed its right over entire Arunachal Pradesh of India. Arunachal Pradesh was previously belonged to China but British colonial rulers captured it when China's central authority was weak. China wants this territory back but India has been occupying it forcibly. The 1962 war between China and India was over the disputed territories. But the territorial dispute has not yet been resolved. China is trying to resolve all issues with India peacefully and diplomatically and build friendly relationship. If China wants to harm India, it has all capabilities to do so from the border and it does not have to use Nepal's soil. So the security issue that India has raised is nothing other than its design to turn Nepal into another Sikkim or Bhutan.
If the present situation continues unabated, Nepal may turn into another Afghanistan. Indian interference has been so naked and blatant that it may invite other countries, too, to play their game in Nepal. Against this background, all Nepalese people, irrespective of ideology and political leaning, need to collectively fight against external meddling to defend our sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity. Unfortunately, some of our political parties are acting like the pawns in the hand of foreigners. One thing all should take into account is the fact that patriotic Nepali people get united whenever their independence, national unity and territorial integrity are at stake.
The writer can be reached at: yubanath@wlink.com.np
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