Question about Nepal’s national sovereignty

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Recent remarks of a top US military officer have triggered a public outcry in the capital of five South Asian countries including Nepal. Admiral Robert F Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, said authentically that the United States, as a part of its global anti-terrorism cooperation, has stationed US Special Forces in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Admiral Willard made these remarks in a Congressional hearing on March 3, 2012 in which he said “ We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India”. He said the deployment of US forces in South Asia is part of Washington’s global war on terror.

The remarks of the US commander were taken with indignation by people in all five countries. However, the governments have chosen to remain tightlipped on this crucial issue that is linked to our national security, sovereignty and foreign policy. A spokesperson of Nepal Army, in response to media query, has denied the report and said that US troops were not stationed in Nepal. The US Embassy also denied the report. But the silence of the Nepal Government over the issue has made the people more confused and suspicious. Had it been not true, the government should have immediately written a protest letter to the US government and made its position public. Since the government has not protested, it must be true and US forces are allowed to be deployed in Nepal in the name of controlling extremist and terrorist groups. Circumstances prove that there is high degree of truth in the story. Firstly, the remarks have not come from an ordinary person but from a top military officer of the sole superpower who is responsible for US security in this region. Secondly, he spoke not casually but said authentically in the US parliament in the public hearing, in which such a high level military officer does not dare to lie.

This has raised some questions which are related to our foreign policy, security policy and intention and sincerity of our government. Firstly, why the deployment of US forces is necessary? Are our security forces including Nepal Army is not capable to maintain security in the country? Secondly, who are the terrorist outfits in Nepal against which the US Special Forces are stationed and mobilized? This has to be made clear by the government of Nepal.

The United States has designated Al Queda, Taliban, Lashkar-e-Toiba and other Islamic fundamentalist groups in the region as extremist and terrorist organizations. The engagement of the US army in other South Asian countries can be understandable because there are Islamic terrorist groups which are active and operating against the interest of the United States and Western countries. But such groups have no significant presence in Nepal. Then why deployment of US Special Force is needed in Nepal. Thus, it needs to be clarified as to who the extremist and terrorist groups are in Nepal. In the past, the United States had sent its troops to train and help the Nepal Army against the Maoist insurgents. This was done at the request of Nepal Government during king’s absolute regime. But the situation has now drastically changed. The Maoists have already joined the peaceful politics and they are in the government. The process to manage the Maoist combatants is underway which is expected to be completed soon.

The United States had earlier designated the Maoists as a terrorist organization and it has still not removed terrorist tag on the Maoists. This implies that the Maoists are still terrorists in the eyes of the United States and the Special US forces, if they are at all positioned in Nepal, are here against the Maoists. It has raised yet another question whether the Maoist party is knowledgeable about this and what this party has to say about it. If the stationing of the US Special Force is not against the Maoists, it should be against our friendly countries—either India or China. Since India itself has allowed to station US forces in its territory, and also has entered into strategic alliance with Washington, the US force positioning in Nepal could be against our northern neighbor—China. This is also undesirable as our government should never allow any external force to harm against our neighbor. The permission of Nepal to allow positioning the US Special Force in Nepal is against the basic principle of our foreign policy which is characterized by adherence to non-alignment and five principle of peaceful co-existence.

This has raised a question concerning the protection of our sovereignty and independence. Circumstances have compelled us to believe what US commander has said is true. Since the news came from the higher level of American Army and it was revealed in US parliament, the issue should be taken up at the higher diplomatic level and be dealt between the two governments. The conspicuous silence of the Nepal Government has made this issue more mysterious. Now it is not clear whether the US troops are here with the permission of the Nepal Government or not. Whether the US Special Forces are in Nepal in knowledge and with permission of our government or without it, the deployment of foreign troops is objectionable in both ways. The deployment of forces in other’s country is an aggression and violation of international rules and norms. If the US troops are deployed with knowledge and permission of Nepal Government, people’s wrath would be against our own government because it firstly allowed foreign troops in our soil and secondly the government lied the people.

Admiral Willard's admission that the U.S Special Forces troops are “laid down” in five Asian countries including Nepal confirms their operational role. This has to be made what caused the US to send troops to Nepal for operational role. Why Nepal allowed the foreign military to be stationed here with its operational or combat role. Nepal is a non-aligned country and it wants friendly and cooperative relations with all countries in the world in general and with our immediate neighbors in particular. The presence of foreign troops in Nepal will definitely irk and make our immediate neighbor suspicious. If the foreign troops stationed in Nepal act against our immediate neighbors, the situation would be hazardous and dangerous for Nepal. What happens if another foreign country follows suit and station its forces with or without the notice and permission of the Nepal Government. What happens if external troops start confrontation in Nepal? Has Nepal ever imagined its consequences?

The United States has global military presence of various forms. In some countries, it has military bases where combat troops are stationed. There are some countries where the United States has military presence in a small scale as experts. In the case of Nepal, it is not known what type of military presence the United States has. The declared US security strategy is focused on maintaining American leadership so that it can best protect its own interests abroad. The United States considers its Armed Force as a cornerstone of American security both at home and abroad, which can be supplemented by its conduct of diplomacy and economic and technological superiority. With these objectives and approaches in mind, America pursues in the world with a self-styled leverage to be engaged in each and every country. Countries and regimes that do not meet these criteria and do not act in tandem with US approaches and policies are entitled to face the consequences, the examples of which were seen in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya recently.

The main security challenges that the United States has perceived at present is terrorism, violent extremism and insurgencies and proliferating nuclear weapons. Washington has launched global war on terror to disrupt, defeat and dismantle the entire terrorist network. The presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan and Special Forces in South Asia are part of its global war on terror. The US foreign policy and security priorities, therefore, are to contain and counter terrorism, extremism insurgencies and stop proliferation and spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The US may go to any extent to achieve these goals and maintain what it calls as an international order. South Asia has troubled history to which the US has to be more sensitive. So far as Nepal is concerned, the presence of foreign troops has no logic and it is encroachment to our sovereignty. Nepal government has to come with its clear position on this issue and if the US troops are stationed in our soil, the government needs to make sure that they immediately withdraw from our territory. We should never allow foreign troops to be stationed in our territory because it is an encroachment to our national sovereignty.