BIMSTEC countries practiced shared military practice in Pune. At the eleventh hour, Nepal turned back. Not only that, Nepal will now have a shared military exercise in Chengdu in China from September 17th. This is its second practice with China and it has been named as Sagarmatha Friendship-2. Experts believe that Nepal has now decided to set up its own world. Indian foreign policymakers have not even dreamt that Nepal, a country like a twin brother to India will walk with differences
After Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Pakistan, now Nepal has also gone on a different path. There is no point in remembering the Indo-Nepal treaty of peace and friendship of 1st July 1950 today. But when you try to peep into the break in the relationship between the two countries, then surely you will have to examine 68 years of the journey after this historical document.
For centuries people of Nepal are not considered as foreigners in India. After the peace treaty, the relations of the two nations got formal depth. In foreign and defense policy mutual support was promised. The first test of this agreement took place within two years; when the Communist Party conspired the coup, with the help of China. Military mission was sent to fail it. Twenty top most army officers also accompanied and that revolt was crushed in Nepal, later this number reached to 197. After this Nepal became apprehensive of China.
According to the treaty, Nepal could buy military equipment from India to make its army strong. On which there was no provision of tax. This was the warning for both Nepal and India. For India because precisely in the same manner it had to face similar actions in Telangana region. Regarding this, the Government of India had concrete proof that with the help of China there were ongoing preparations for the violent revolution. India’s intelligence agencies cautioned, then the government stood alert and the attempt of this rebellion was failed.
About this operation, Gulzari Lal Nanda on All India Radio broadcasted the emergency message on the name of the nation. Unfortunately, the two countries did not pay attention to this. China’s secret efforts continued. We remained uninformed. Although Nepal was taking arms from India according to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, there was also one provision in it that if Nepal wants then after discussion with India, it can buy weapons from other countries.
Ten years ago, Nepal bought arms from the US but Nepal’s army did not say this fact openly. Well, there has been a great tradition of India with the army of Nepal, which is not with any country. This tradition is to give each other’s Chiefs the highest respect in their country. But in the recent years, this tradition also has evolved soreness. Nepal and India’s armies have also run their joint military campaigns through campaigns like Operation Surya Kiran. But after Oli became the Prime Minister, Nepal is openly playing in China’s lap. Oli is left supporter. This attitude of Nepal gives rise to many fears and anxieties for India. There can be many advantages from China’s crackdown in Nepal’s army. Secondly, to make the first joint military exercises of BIMSTEC nations, Nepal agreed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister. In practice, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand were present. Nepal’s denial just one day prior embarrassed India among other neighbors.
The difficulty is that other neighboring countries can also consider Nepal’s attitude as anti-India. Myanmar and Bhutan are very sensitive to this point. These countries also know that India has been the closest to Nepal from a cultural point of view. When Nepal came under the influence of China, how would India be able to provide protection to other countries? This question will glance at the foreign policy of these countries in the days to come. China’s plan to surround India with all four directions it has been completed to a great extent with Nepal joining its camp.
Written by: -Rajesh Badal, Senior Journalist