India-Nepal Relations: Security & Strategic Dimensions
INDIA-NEPAL RELATIONS: SECURITY & STRATEGIC DIMENSIONS
DR. ABHAYA KUMAR SINGH
READER
DEPT. OF DEFENCE & STRATEGIC STUDIES
K. S. SAKET POST GRDUATE COLLEGE
(Dr.R.M.L. Avadh University) AYODHYA, FAIZABAD.
Sandwiched between two great cultures and empires, India and China, tucked away in the foothills of the great Himalaya, the mountain kingdom of Nepal is in turmoil today. Amidst the continuously expanding sphere of Maoist influence, political uncertainties making it easy for anti-Indian terrorists to operate from there and growing international interest, Nepal continues to remain one of the most volatile countries in the South Asia. Relations between India and Nepal date from antiquity. The similarity in culture, civilization, and religion in both countries have augmented and reinforced these ties. The relations between both countries are basically determined by their inevitable geographical and strategic compulsions. Both history and geography have conferred upon them a special obligation to cultivate and maintain friendly and stable relations to keep their core national interests intact. The bilateral relations have been going on in two currents- a visible and a basic or invisible current. Visible current some time may have ripple going up and down but the invisible current is guided by links of history, culture, community and family relationship. It only proceeds in one direction that is forward.1
BRIEF HISTORY:
Nepal is the only Hindu nation of the world. Due to its geographical location it remained safe from Islamic onslaught and free from British rule. Modern Nepal dates back to 18th century, it was a monarchy. The first King of Nepal was Prithvi Narayan Shah. He established the Shah dynasty in Nepal in 1769. Nepal’s internal politics during the 18th
DR. ABHAYA KUMAR SINGH
READER
DEPT. OF DEFENCE & STRATEGIC STUDIES
K. S. SAKET POST GRDUATE COLLEGE
(Dr.R.M.L. Avadh University) AYODHYA, FAIZABAD.
Sandwiched between two great cultures and empires, India and China, tucked away in the foothills of the great Himalaya, the mountain kingdom of Nepal is in turmoil today. Amidst the continuously expanding sphere of Maoist influence, political uncertainties making it easy for anti-Indian terrorists to operate from there and growing international interest, Nepal continues to remain one of the most volatile countries in the South Asia. Relations between India and Nepal date from antiquity. The similarity in culture, civilization, and religion in both countries have augmented and reinforced these ties. The relations between both countries are basically determined by their inevitable geographical and strategic compulsions. Both history and geography have conferred upon them a special obligation to cultivate and maintain friendly and stable relations to keep their core national interests intact. The bilateral relations have been going on in two currents- a visible and a basic or invisible current. Visible current some time may have ripple going up and down but the invisible current is guided by links of history, culture, community and family relationship. It only proceeds in one direction that is forward.1
BRIEF HISTORY:
Nepal is the only Hindu nation of the world. Due to its geographical location it remained safe from Islamic onslaught and free from British rule. Modern Nepal dates back to 18th century, it was a monarchy. The first King of Nepal was Prithvi Narayan Shah. He established the Shah dynasty in Nepal in 1769. Nepal’s internal politics during the 18th
References: 9. Dainik Jagaran (Lucknow), 24 November, 2005 10 11. Hindustan Times (New Delhi), 24 November, 2001. 13. Hindustan Times (Lucknow), 18 November, 2005. 17. In 1997, a Joint working Group was established to determine modalities to monitor the border. In April, 1997, Uttar Pradesh-Nepal Border Force was raised to check illegal activities along the border. 18. India Today, 19 September, 2005 p.32 19