Though religious fundamentalism is absent from Nepal political extremism has been a source of instability
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Although Nepal has not witnessed international terrorism till date, the country may not always be so lucky. At this juncture, when the whole world is grieving from the heinous attack of Islamic State (IS) on Paris, Nepalis are queuing in front of fuel stations to collect a little petrol due to the prolonged Indian blockade. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Nepal continues to be a yam between two boulders as defined by late King Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Terrorism is the result of either religious/ethnic fundamentalism or political extremism. While suicide attacks have been the most favored method of international terrorists, increasingly western intelligence agencies, especially the French, fear chemical and biological weapon attacks. Evidently Mustard Gas has been used by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. According to media reports, many chemical labs run by local jihadists had been destroyed by US Armed force in Iraq.
South Asia is not immune to import of global terrorism. Both Islamic fundamentalism and leftist extremism along with secessionist movements have destabilized inter-states as well as intra-states security in the Indian sub-continent. Al-Queda, Taliban, Lashkar-E-Taiba along with other jihadist groups, ultra leftist organizations such as Naxalites and secessionist organizations like Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) contribute to exacerbate regional instability. Although the eradication of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) from Sri Lanka has resulted in some stability in the region, the renewed quest of IS to gain a grip on the region has again added to the challenge of regional security.
Though religious fundamentalism has never been experienced in Nepal, political extremism has time and again been a source of instability. Frequently leftist as well as rightist parties have resorted to armed struggles. Mukti Sena's armed movement against Rana rule (1944-51), Bhim Datta Pant's armed struggle (1952-53) and Naxalite-influenced Jhapa armed rebellion (1972-73) are some examples. In addition, the decade-long Maoist armed struggle killed 13,000 people.
Unlike other South Asian countries, Nepal has never been directly targeted by international terrorism, even while it has been used as a staging ground. The hijack of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 in 1999 from Tribhuwan International Airport is a case in point. Arrest of international terrorists like Yashin Bhatkal (from Dhangadi in 2014) substantiates this. Indian authorities believe anti-Indian elements have long been active in Nepal. Porous southern border and near identical social configurations with people across the southern border make Nepal vulnerable. Exploiting such loopholes, Maoist leaders took sanctuary in India during the insurgency. The Nepali Maoists were also believed to be in contact with Indian Naxalites and Sri Lankan LTTE.
Terrorism is like a cancer. You become susceptible if your immune power is weak. For countries like Nepal where radical politics has deep roots and where the state is weak, they always need to be in high alert. Right now, Nepal stands at a crossroads due to the contested constitution.
Madhesh movement, emergence of secessionist groups, fragmentation of the radical wing of UCPN (Maoist) to pursue armed struggle and other ethnic and Hindu groups have increased our vulnerability. On the other hand growing poverty, illiteracy, mass migration of youth, underdevelopment and growing divide between rich and poor can also be seen as factors that can contribute to terrorism.
In the past few years, foreign incursions in Nepal has increased manifold. In the name of aid and assistance, thousands of INGOs and foreign institutions have stormed into Nepal. The country has not been able to regulate them property. What if one of them turns out to be a sleeper terrorist cell?
Mushrooming of religion converting institutions (Christian, Islam or Buddhist) is another prominent threat. The ability to choose religion is a fundamental right. But forceful conversion or luring someone into conversion is a serious offence according to the new constitution. Indeed when radical Muslim youths from South Asian countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh hop across borders to join the jihad in Iraq and Syria, Nepal cannot remain indifferent.
Terrorism based on religious fundamentalism has become a big challenge to global and regional security. Without inter-state and regional cooperation it is impossible to fight. As once cited by former US President Bill Clinton, South Asia is the most dangerous place on earth. Only robust regionalism can protect against this danger. But with the bigger states seemingly committed to bullying smaller states in the region into submission, regional security is far from secure.
The author is a graduate in Political Science and Strategic Studies
