India and Nepal participated in the fourteenth meeting of their Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues on Thursday. Apart from security issues, they also discussed the need to bolster cooperation on disaster management.
India was represented by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) of Ministry of External Affairs. Meanwhile, the Nepalese delegation was led by Tirtha Raj Wagle, Joint Secretary (South Asia) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting also saw the participation of officials from both countries’ Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Home Affairs, along with representatives of their armies and the disaster management authorities.
According to a release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides discussed “issues relating to mutual security concerns.” In this regard, they agreed to work towards “training and capacity building” for the Nepalese forces. They also discussed the “requirements of Nepal Army for various defence stores.”
While there was no information on the security threats discussed at the meeting, the consultation is likely to have featured discussions on the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and its prospective spill-over into their respective countries.
In addition, the two countries also face security threats along their common border from arms smuggling, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. In fact, earlier this month, India and Nepal participated in a joint border patrol to deter crimes across their common border following their annual coordination meeting on the issue.
The Indian statement said that the two sides also discussed the need to bolster cooperation in disaster management. Over the past month, late monsoons caused widespread destruction in both countries. The monsoons, which usually end in September, resulted in landslides, causing damage to several homes, bridges, and roads. Over 200 people across both countries have died as a result of the floods.
India and Nepal have long been allies, with New Delhi accounting for over two-thirds of Kathmandu’s trade. However, disagreements and territorial disputes emerged in the open and tensions between the two neighbours have escalated over the past year. India and Nepal share an open border of about 1,800 kilometres. While both countries have finalised 98% of the boundary, the Lipulekh pass, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in western Nepal remain contested territories.
However, since the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba in July, who replaced pro-China KP Sharma Oli as the country’s Prime Minister, there has been an attempt from both sides to revive their friendship.
India, Nepal Discuss Joint Disaster Management Mechanisms Following Devastating Floods
Amid the flood damage in both countries, India and Nepal discussed cooperation in disaster management during a meeting of the 14th bilateral Consultative Group on security.
October 29, 2021
SOURCE: INDIA TODAY