International Relations

As mentioned by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in his Divyopadesh (Divine Counsel) "Nepal is a yam between two boulders" whose existence could only be kept intact if the strategic relation with these two superpowers could be kept practically balanced. The meaning of the divyopadesh still carries strong significance. After the launching of the People's War by Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) in 1996 and the 9/11 terrorist attack in US and subsequent Global War Against Terrorism, the context of Nepal's international relation has significantly changed. The horizon of Nepal's international relation with consideration to its local politics has widened much and needs to be discussed in the global context. In this context, there is an urgent need of a genuine debate on what should be the role of international community in the future peace process in Nepal and what possible scenarios might arise in the future political as well as socioeconomic development of Nepal.

Our neighbours India and China as well as the UN, USA, UK, the EU and other countries are expressing their concerns about the deteriorating situation due to internal armed conflict as well as political confrontation within the constitutional forces. There is a difference in perceiving the Maoist rebellion among the international community.

Nepal and India are very close neighbours having unique ties governed by religious, cultural and economic interdependence as well as open border stretched to approximately 2000 Kilometres, which has brought various social, economic and political problems in recent times. The open border has facilitated the increased incidents of illegal transaction on small arms and light weapons, provided sanctuaries for the Maoists and encouraged kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking, drug trafficking, cross border robbery, smuggling of forest resources and immigration of labour force. Further, refugees and Tibetan refugee issues with Bhutan and Tibet Autonomous Region of China to Nepal should also be looked into while discussing Nepal's international relation.

In this context, FFP has carried out a series of research work on various issues of Nepal's international relation in the context of current political crisis situation. Considering the historical relation of Nepal with India, the first series of research has been devoted in the following four specific areas of Nepal India relation.

• Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nepal and its future challenges

• Nepal-India open-border and its implication on the conflict situation in Nepal focussing on how it has benefited the Maoists rebellion as well as other criminal actors in Nepal.

• Nepal-India Water Resource Projects and Associated Conflicts. A Socio-Political Analysis of Nepal-India Relation in the Context of Political Crisis Situation in Nepal

• India's Possible Role in Future Peace Process in Nepal and an analysis on how India perceives the conflict situation in Nepal.