Geopolitical Reflections of Sino-Indian Conflict and its Implication on Nepal’s Survival Strategy

Border disputes between China and India in June 2020 almost lead South Asian countries to take a side. But, Nepal, situated between India and China, has always expressed a stern belief in neutrality and non-alignment. Even though New Delhi doubted Nepal’s neutrality and non-alignment citing China’s growing footprints in Nepal, Kathmandu reckoned such suspicion as the result of a new map row between two countries connected by open borders. While Nepal’s repeated calls to diplomatically resolve India-Nepal border problems remained unheeded by New Delhi, it provided room for the ruling communist party in Nepal to reap geopolitical benefits out of the Sino-Indian dispute. But, interestingly, such geopolitical benefits are usually targeted in tempering Indian influence in Nepal, by getting closer with China. Apprehending the same, this study aims to assess the geopolitical implication of Sino-Indian conflict on the survival strategy of Nepal. To fulfill the same objectives, the Chinese perception of Nepal-India relations, and Indian perception of Sino-Nepal ties have been critically assessed in this study. This study is methodologically based on the information collected from the secondary sources. In order to critically evaluate the geopolitical expression of Sino-Indian conflict in Nepal, this study reviews India’s perception of Nepal-China relations, and China’s perception of Nepal-India relations. Also, the reports and the press releases of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, historical facts, treaties, government reports and decisions have been studied and analyzed. Media sources are also reviewed to understand the diverse narratives produced on the geopolitical reflection of Sino-Indian conflict. The themes that emerged from the reviews are thematically analyzed and interpreted, to discover that cultivating relations with one country at the expense of the other may be counterproductive to Nepal’s survival strategies.

Theories of Nation Building: An Analysis for Academicians and Nation Builders to Employ Nepali Army

Some of the theories of nation building have been dedicated to the study of link between nation and nationalism; others are attributed to explore nation building, state building, social integration, national integration and even conflict transformation during various historical periods. However, nation building is a normative concept used by academicians and nation builders alike to study the role of armed forces in nation building in recent times. Although research has conducted on ethnicity and nation building in Nepal, a little is known about application of theoretical perspective to explore the role of Nepali Army in nation building. Apparently, this article argues that the level of theoretical awareness of academicians and nation builders needs improvement and multiple theories of nation building are relevant to explore the role of Nepali Army in nation building during various enclaves of Nepali nation. Important issues like what are the relevant theories in Nepali context to analyse nation building? Their implication during the historical times to study the link of Nepali Army with nation building needs to be studied. Hence, this paper comparatively examines a nation building theories and their relevant implications during various enclaves of Nepali nation particularly applauding the role on Nepali Army. Conceptual framework based on Saunder's Research Onion Peeled (2007) method was used with qualitative design in a way of inductive approach to conduct the research work to investigate the research questions. Comparative document study, library research, quick survey with policy makers, government employees, professors, university students APF Officers and Army Officers based on purposive sampling method have been used. Study found that Nepali nation passes through its own way of building the nation in various enclaves, none of the theories are complete to study the employment of Nepali Army to produce visible and encouraging results. The level of theoretical awareness of academicians and nation builders needs further improvement. For this, multiple theories particularly related to social transformation, infrastructural development in support of centre to periphery relation; social integration and nationalism are appropriate.

Internal and External Security Challenges of Nepal

Nepal has been a home to diversified settlement in terms of ethnicity, religion, dialect and culture since its outset in civilization. It also lies between two great military and economic giants of Asia – India and China – that are hostile to each other. While these bring abundant opportunities for Nepal, it possesses several internal and external security threats. Nepal suffers from cyber-attack, environmental degradation, pandemic, ethnic, racial or religious conflicts, inequality and poverty, extremism, human trafficking, corruption, migration and trans-boundary crime. In addition, Nepal also faces several security threats, traditional and non–traditional, including terrorism and insurgency. These threats possess serious implications on peace and security of Nepal and the South Asian region. There is a need of serious study about the major internal and external security challenges that Nepal faces in recent decades. This study aims at examining some of the major security challenges, explore the factors behind it, and attempt to suggest few policy recommendations to the government of Nepal to deal with them. The study is conducted by reviewing the primary and secondary sources of data. The primary data includes documents of the government agencies, press release, joint statement and organizational reports. It also includes the interviews with security experts, bureaucrats, policy makers and academicians. Similarly, secondary data includes books, news reports, academic journals, seminars report and reports of research institutes and think tanks. The study highlights that Nepal should prepare itself to meet with the emerging internal and external security challenges what have emerged in recent times. With the rise of India and China, two adversarial powers in the region, Nepal possess extreme challenges in days to come. Similarly, hardly any countries of the world had prepared itself to deal with recent pandemic like COVID-19 that has shattered even the most powerful countries of the world. Taking lessons from these, it is time for Nepal to learn and prepare to mitigate the challenges.

Geo-Strategic Imperative of North-Western Border: Triangular Region Kalapani - Lipulekh and Limpiadhura of Nepal

The extreme north western region of Nepal is bordered with India and China and separated by Mahakali River. As per Article 5 of Sugauli treaty and various other evidences like, historical facts, ancient maps, river science, government correspondence and other documents proves that the river originating from Limpiadhura form the international boundary between Nepal and China. However, the certain parts of Nepalese territory have been under the control of India from seven decades. Owing to the historical and geographical proximity, Nepal has maintained special relations with her immediate neighbors, India and China, despite several complex situations. Remaining away from strategic competition and rivalry; and gaining maximum benefit from India and China as they are global and regional players would best serve the national interest of Nepal. Underdeveloped nature of physical infrastructures, nascent institutional structures and poor presence of government machinery in the North western border of Nepal has complicated the problem. Our neighbors should be sensitive and respectful to our concerns and interests. Delicate handling of border issues is in our interest. Nepal has become the center of geopolitical interest in the present world. Sands of geopolitics are constantly shifting in South Asia and Nepal cannot remain aloof from it. Influence in Nepal from competition and cooperation is rising. There is a need of cooperation for transit economy and trilateral cooperation. Nepal should use her diplomatic expertise and regain our territory by maintaining friendly and harmonious relations with her neighbors. Nepal and India shouldn’t delay in resolving such outstanding disputes. Both countries should bring their evidences and carefully examine that evidence by creating a favorable negotiating environment. Above all, national consensus on such sensitive issue is important.

Nepal’s Survival Strategies During the Shah Era

Nepal is one of the few countries in the world which was never colonized during the hey-day of colonial era. She is bounded on the north by China and on the three other sides by India. Compared to these Colossi, Nepal is significantly weaker in terms of demography, economics, military strength and physical size. Nepal is, thus, a typical small state. There are several strategies that small states can employ to compensate for their weaknesses, ensure security, and secure a measure of influence over other actors. Small state literature exposes that such states can choose from strategies such as entering into alliance with a great power, hedging, neutrality, balancing, and band– wakening. Currently, this paper explores a trajectory of survival strategies that Nepal adopted during the Shah era on the basis of the analysis of crucial events that occurred during this period from perspectives of small state theories. The paper is based on the study of relevant books, documents and articles on small states amidst international affairs in global spheres. The joint rise of India and China is transforming the strategic landscape of Nepal’s neighborhood and will have a profound and long-term impact on Nepal. Nepal in the past has demonstrated a stubborn ability to survive by adapting to changing geopolitical situations. Although the present-day world is far more complex, lessons from the past are worth reconsidering because there are instances of similarities to the present. Furthermore, some aspects of strategy are constant.

Key Security Challenges of the Third World

While shaping an impression of the Third World from post-colonial, non-aligned to less developed states today, security concerns over the region, more or less, remained a status quo in a handful of international security scholars. This article explores various security challenges, including internal, regional, transnational and international of Asia, Africa and Latin American countries, the then considered Third World. Military interventions, illegal migration and narco-terrorism of Latin America; Demographic derivatives, ethnical conflicts and transnational organized crimes in Africa; Terrorism, failing states and climate security issues of Asia are considered to be key security concerns hereunder. This article aims to contribute towards building collective action for stabilizing and sustaining the world peace. It seeks to off er an alternative understanding of constantly evolving security dimensions. Some of those enshrined alternative practical approaches include confinement of military to external defense, Cartegena Declaration implementation for illegal migrants, Custom controls in drug trade, turning youth bulge to demographic dividend, inclusive participation of ethnic groups, technology enforced crime patrol, scooping out Islamism from terrorism, active participation of non-state actors in nation building and finally increased international collaboration eff orts with indigenous technical knowledge for resilient climate strategy Drawing on quantitative data from recognized platforms, elite interviews on security dialogues, reputed newspapers, e-books, and journal articles, this article confronts us with the necessity to fertilize fragile nations of the Third World against the backdrop of economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental origins.

Unification Trails and Heritage Tourism Potential in Nepal

By the end of the eighteenth and early twentieth century, Shah Kings of Nepal succeeded in bringing together several small kingdoms under the Gorkha rule. King Prithvi Narayan Shah and his successors– led Gorkhali troops fought wars and travelled through several routes and trails across the Trans–Himalayas to expand the vast geography from Gorkha to Tista River in the east and Kangra fort in the west. In this background, this paper examines the importance of the unification trails, the routes used by Gorkhali troops, to unify neighboring principalities that eventually developed into modern Nepal. The unification trails are less explored issues in Nepal. In recent years, they have become popular historical sites for trekkers, visitors, researchers and historians to explore how Gorkhali soldiers skillfully expanded the territory. This is a descriptive and exploratory study based on historical facts and secondary resources. This paper concludes that the unification trails have historical and contemporary relevance for research as well as tourism potential. As one of the crucial forces to revitalize these trails, Nepali Army has constantly engaged with local people, and thus, promoting tourism activities. It offers the local communities the pathways of connection, avenues for development, basis for serving the daily livelihood and increase of income for the medium and small size entrepreneurs, workers, and other disadvantaged groups located along these trails.

A Study on the Balance Between Work and Family of Nepali Army Officers

This study tries to explore and examine the relationships of work-family balance among army officers of the Nepal Army.The objectives of the study is to discover the issues and consequences of the work family confl ict by examining and discussing the impact of time, stress and job satisfaction on work-family relation and to suggest some recommendations to maintain the balance between the two. This study is simply base on desk review of research papers and information on work-family relation of army officers. Unprecedented problems of work family conflict are a common phenomenon within modern organizations. Stress, low performance, absenteeism, quitting from the force and committing suicide are the consequences of the work-family conflict So, the organizations are compelled to manage all causes of conflict before escalating the adverse effects. The study has followed a step-by-step approach to undertake review of the research papers. The results of this study reveal that work-life conflict and stress have a significant positive relationship. The findings of the study will encourage the Nepal Army for further research on work family balance and the additional examination may provide better understanding of truth. It is also hope that the results and recommendations gleaned from this study may assist the Nepal Army in making policies and programs related to work family conflict in future. Should the Nepal Army leadership fail to work proactively to ensure this balance, this may provide ground for a new kind of conflict.

Sports and Technology

This research article examines the use of technology in sports from a double-edged perspective. This article focuses on some of the remarkable technological advancementwhich has revolutionized and impeded the sport industry as whole. From introduction ofmodern technology in training of players to reducing the faults in game through variousmeasures like Video Assistant Referee and Goal Line Technology, the development andimplementation of technology in sports has played a vital role in improving the standardof game, for players as well as for spectators. However, only a few research works havebeen conducted and a minimum of articles have been written on the hindrances causedby those technology and problems with proper implementation of technology in sports. This paper is prepared after in-depth research of news by various sports portals, channels and magazines along with the views of experts of diff erent sports who have recognizedthe need and development of technology in sports. This paper further elucidates on howthe advancement has benefi tted and the fi eld of sports with substantial infl uence on game results by mitigation of errors which were inevitable when technology was not usedin past. Based on elucidation of different primary and secondary sources, such as journal articles, newspapers, magazines, sports portals and events, case laws, statutes, this research article is mostly qualitative than quantitative.

The Impact of Covid-19 on National Security of Nepal

With the announcement of a nationwide lockdown from 24th March 2020 in Nepal, national security is no longer limited to the proper use of economic power, political authority, and diplomacy. Public and private offices have asked their employees to work from home in the online space considering the uncertainty about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction of the ‘new normal’ to maintain physical distance and perform the task from cyber/online space has demanded the redefinition of the concept of national security, i.e., beyond the protection of nation and citizens from potential attacks and ensuring the guard of the state secrets. With the responsibility to undertake the regular duties including preparation for war, investigation of crimes, safeguard of national territories, and the establishment of peace and order, the security forces of Nepal are piled up with another challenging responsibility of preventing cybercrime and its by-product in this ongoing digital era. As the security forces of Nepal are occupied with the task to address the pandemic situation, it is likely that criminals and terrorists take advantage of it and cause rampant cybercrimes. Electronic Transaction Act, 2063B.S (2008A.D) is the major law that authenticates, regularizes, and controls the unauthorized use of electronic records in Nepal. This article focuses on the discussion if more than a decade older Act is sufficient to address the new cyber issues mushrooming in speedily running cyberspace. This article aims to explore various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on different aspects of the national security of Nepal with special emphasis on cyber security. The study is conducted based on data obtained from different sources. Published articles, news, documentaries, and comparative study related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national security are searched and reviewed for this study.