Knowledgeable sources who met Indian foreign minister S M Krishna during his three-day visit to Nepal said Krishna implicitly told them that integration of Maoist combatants in higher ranks of the Nepal Army may politicize the national army. He was of the view that integration of the combatants in higher post increases the danger of politicization of the national army. [break]
"Krishna told me that the national army should not be politicized in the name of integration," said one of the sources who discussed integration issue with the Indian foreign minister last week.
While making the point, Krishna had said that everything has been politicized in Nepal and politicization of the Nepal Army may lead to further instability in Nepal and that will have implications in India as well.
"Who will take care of this country that is at high risk of political instability if army is also politicized?" Krishna had asked the source who does not want to be identified in the news.
Krishna during his visit to Nepal was explicit regarding his government´s views about the Nepal Army.
"I was assured by the Nepali leadership that they recognized the crucial importance of preserving the professional integrity and apolitical nature of the Nepal Army," he had told a press conference at the Tribhuvan International Airport before returning to Delhi last Friday.
During his visit, Krishna had also held a "secret" meeting with Army Chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung and the meeting was kept out of the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Krishna had inquired about army integration modality being discussed in Nepal, including the one floated by the Nepal Army. The army-floated model has proposed to set up a separate directorate under the Nepal Army to accommodate 64 percent personnel from the army, Nepal Police and Armed Police, and 34 percent personnel from the Maoists combatants. The model is currently under discussion among political parties and the taskforce under the Special Committee.
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