Can India & China afford instability in Nepal?

Niraj Aryal

Kathmandu, Niraj Aryal: One former Indian ambassador to Nepal replied talking to the BBC few months back that whenever India and China meet it is unthinkable they would not discuss Nepal situation.

Media men quite frequently make telephone calls to former Indian Ambassadors, former diplomats and retired Indian military men to get inkling of what Indian establishment feels about Nepali worsening situation. What they get from those retired bunch of men seated in Delhi may not actually represent what Delhi regime is up to here in Nepal? Yes, they have lots of experience but we can’t take Delhi’s frame of mind through their personal views. Because, they share personal views and we know that Nepal has very good relations with India at the personal level and, unfortunately it is just not the case at the state-to-state level.

Thus, said K.V. Rajan, the former Indian Ambassador, views expressed by him with the BBC does not reflect how New Delhi establishment foresee Nepal’s situation. Nevertheless, one thing interesting to note in the remark of Ambassador Rajan was perhaps acceptance of the fact that Nepal no longer remains India’s lone prerogative. It was unimaginable to even think India would have discussed Nepal situation with the Chinese just few years back.

Understandably, Nepali media prefer not to question former Chinese diplomats, military personnel and other interested individuals, because they know that nothing exclusive is coming from that camp.

But, when it comes perchance from the Northern camp, it becomes intolerable for some and unbelievable even to the Nepali nationals. Because, at state-to-state level, Nepal shares extremely good ties with China and that can be observed from the Chinese statements that refer to Nepali sovereignty, territorial integrity and Nationalism, which flabbergast few many in Nepal as well. After all from which quarter are we experiencing threats to our Nationalism and sovereignty? The Chinese haven’t explained it so far.

Unfortunately, at the personal level, China and Nepal need to work very hard to make this relation a flowery one. Indeed, some Nepali nationals have begun tying nuptial bonds with the Chinese and the speed is in progress.

No matter India is admitably closer to Nepal in many more aspects than China is, but the worsening Nepal situation must have been hurting both the neighbors very hard equally.

Now coming to the point of the visit of India’s national security advisor and PM Man Mohan’s special emissary Mr. Shiva Shankar Menon to Beijing recently, can we presume that Nepal’s two neighbors apart from discussing issues internal to them also talked about Nepal’s worsening peace and political situation? Certainly they did, if we are to go by what K.V. Rajan told the BBC and the way Chinese have formally reacted to the situation Nepal is undergoing lately.

Such a meet has coincidently taken place few days after the residential US ambassador to Nepal Scott H. Delsi told publicly that the US would like to see both India and China engaged in Nepal affairs.

The point is not that India and China should engage in Nepal affairs, but the point is that their engagement must bring peace and stability in Nepal at any cost.

And, can India and China afford to allow stakes originating from elsewhere in their backyard?

We have seen what happens when several stakes collide? Lebanon and Afghanistan have been for centuries the playing ground of western powers. Can India and China afford to see another Afghanistan in Nepal? Perhaps not! If not then, the two neighbors should engage in bringing Nepal’s traditional and forward-looking forces together in order to ensure and secure their own security interests. Understandably, China and India during the Beijing meet must have mulled over this option as well.

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Comments

  • Posted on - 2011-03-07    by     Sreedhar
  • This is wonderful article, i love the way it is narrated. I assume this is a warning for both INDIA and China. Being an INDIAN i surely do know we assume and think as Nepals is our younger brother but i guess as it is said appropriately it needs to be a strong younger brother or we need to support him to become stronger. I am not sure when these politicians will understand the plinth of people living under that kind of fear and in stability. We all INDIAN's are with you.. Love Nepal for its beauty and innocence.. Sreedhar
  • Posted on - 2010-09-29    by     devesh
  • Obviously Nepal seeks prosperity from both the neighbors.But unfortunately some foolish persons,especially from media and politics always shows their slavery mentality and ran towards south.Thus this arises some doubt for north.Result what we are seeing now a days.If Nepal plunge into any kind of further conflict,both the neighbor will close down their boarder tightly towards this poor country.The so called friends will disappear.Actually the retired diplomats even could not get so much attention in their own country then they get in Nepal.When they was here they made some media-person even they was SLC failed.In the same manner some so called popular politicians brought in the frame.Now Indians are paying for that.They lost in MRP,Mid-Marsyangdi and above all the dishonor for embassy of India.
  • Posted on - 2010-08-06    by     david in london
  • Nice to know that US anabsador wants India nd China to get together on Nepal. Yes, they should by declaring Nepal as a peace zone and restoring monarchy
  • Posted on - 2010-07-20    by     harish kharel
  • hitting nail on the head of both china and india. worth reading commentary by mr. aryal.
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