Counter-Insurgency Operations in Nepal
10 Apr, 2002 · 720
Brig Khanduri argues that Nepal needs greater support and coordination to liquidate the Maoist insurgency
The neglect by the Nepalese Government of the western region has led to the Maoists establishing their ‘writ’ here. Building up their political cadre with communists, ex-servicemen and unemployed youth, including some former prisoners of the 1962 India-China War, this nuclei has proliferated in
Nepal
and the neighbouring Indian states.
Nepal
has geared up its CI operations. The Emergency has seen the RNA and Armed Police coordinate their military efforts, although intelligence is badly lacking. A series of cordon and search operations mounted by heliborne and ground troops have led to a large number of casualties being inflicted on the guerrillas. Concurrently, the Psychological Operations (Psy Ops) for hearts and minds have begun to yield results, which saw some 700 Maoists surrender to the RNA in Gorkha, Dolakha, Parbat and Dolpa in January. Women and children, too, have joined rallies and marches against the Maoists.
India
has lent its full support and has intensified deployment of police (ITBP, SSB and State Armed police) on the open India-Nepal border. The second development is the keen interest shown by the
US
by extending the Operation Enduring Freedom to
Nepal
. It has also offered $200 million in aid. Branding the Maoists as ‘terrorists like Al Qaida’, the
US
has sent a high-level delegation to assist RNA draw up its ‘inventory of support’. Financial support has also been offered by
India
,
Norway
,
Japan
,
Sweden
and
Britain
.
Nepal
said recently, “
China
will never support Maoists, although they may have adopted our Chairman’s surname”. Ironically, like
Pakistan
, it is renouncing the Taliban; earlier, it was the Chinese who initiated and promoted Communism in
Nepal
out of which the Maoists sprang up.
Nepal
’s total commitment to protracted warfare. It needs integration of all security forces under one command, development of the area, solidarity among leaders, unwavering support of the people besides political will to fight the battle to culmination.
US
in
Nepal
will pose future questions. It will lead to what some Nepalese call ‘Americanization’ of
Nepal
. Seen in the context of American presence in
Central Asia
,
Pakistan
and elsewhere, this American manoeuver is a stratagem to encircle
China
. It will also further reduce Indian influence in
Nepal
, already on the wane.
Maladministration was, no doubt, the major cause for the rise of Maoists – a fact acknowledged by King Gyanendra. Highlighting bad governance, corruption, political instability and economic anomalies, the King, in his 19 February message, said: “We can make our commitments towards democracy meaningful only through a conviction that places national interests above everything else.” He has ordered a national commission to investigate corruption by politicians.
The Emergency that continues into its fourth month has been bitterly criticized by the Communists. The Maoists have taken advantage of their mobility to attack static posts manned by the security forces. Their experience in conducting guerrilla warfare has given them an edge over the security forces– especially the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), whose role and training until its deployment for counter insurgency (CI) operations, had been largely ceremonial.
The recent strikes by the Maoists seem designed to demoralize the RNA and create doubts among the politicians and the people about their ability to liquidate the Maoists. One of the largest attacks on the security forces was in last July when they killed 55 policemen on Gyanendra’s birthday. Thus far the largest attack on the security forces took a heavy toll in areas around ACHAM of 153 personnel on 17 February, followed the decoration of the Crown Prince by the King.
The Government has continued parleys with the political wing of the Maoists. The King has also made overtures of amnesty to those surrendered. Two more developments have bolstered the Government resolve to liquidate insurgency: the overwhelming support by the SAARC members in joining hands to condemn the Maoists during the January Summit and interestingly battle against terrorism in terms of UN Security Council Resolution No 1373.
The Chinese, having joined the fraternity of terrorism fighting nations, were loud in their denunciation of the Maoists. Wu Cong Yong, Chinese Ambassador to
These major developments are healthy signs but CI demands a strategy that is based on
The growing influence of the
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