KATHMANDU, Sept 16: A group of officials from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reportedly arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday. According to a source privy to the matter, the team reached Nepal to ascertain the validity of the largely unsubstantiated media reports claiming the increasing presence of agents of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Nepal.  

However, officials from the Nepal Police Headquarters claimed that they have not been notified of the arrival of such a team. “We have not received any formal letter from the Indian Police about the movement of such a team to Nepal,” spokesperson for the Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dan Bahadur Karki told Republica, “In such a case, we cannot ascertain the reason behind such a visit.” 

Following a request from the National Central Bureau (NCB), Singapore, to its Nepalese counterpart on July 24 for information about three Nepali individuals’ involvement in financing and facilitating terrorism, a number of media outlets had speculated the presence of ISIS in Nepal. According to DIG Karki, the reports claiming the presence of ISIS compromising national security have been blown out of proportion. 

“One of the three individuals Mahendra Jung Shah was denied entry to Malaysia in 2016, which prompted the investigation into the party of three who were travelling together,” DIG Karki told Republica, “However, there is no evidence that they are linked to any terrorist organization.” He added that simply because the Singapore-NCB requested information into the probable involvement of Shah does not validate the claim that there are ISIS agents in Nepal. 

As per DIG Karki, the reason behind the visit could be purely personal or something related to the Indian Embassy. Experts have claimed that it is not always problematic from the viewpoint of national security if officials from a foreign nation’s investigative agency enter the country without notifying the Nepal Police. 

“It would be problematic if the team arrests an individual in Nepal without sharing the intent with Nepal Police,” a former DIG of Nepal Police told Republica on condition of anonymity, “However, if they are simply here for personal purpose or for gathering information, it is not a part of standard procedure to notify the country’s police.” He added that officials from Nepal Police also venture into India at times to gather information without informing their Indian counterparts.

 
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