The government informed that it is ready to make full payment at a go for the purchase of assault rifles from the United States, keeping aside the national procurement law that mandates sum to be paid in three installments.

However, the proposal to amend is yet to be tabled in the Cabinet, says the Ministry of Défense.The decision is expected to ease weapon imports for the Nepal Army to equip its soldiers to be deployed across the globe under the United Nations peacekeeping missions.

As the reports say, the government is hurrying up in the weapon procurement process in line with the decisions taken by the United Nations with regard to its peacekeeping operations.

As per the discussions, every member nation of the peacekeeping operations should have their soldiers fully equipped as soon as UN orders for deployment of troops.

This point was also on priority for the Foreign Minister Gyawali during his recent visit to Washington DC, last week.

According to the Ministry of Defense Spokesperson Baburam Gautam, the government is most likely to clear the way soon for releasing the sum and all the arms consignments are ready to be delivered immediately after the payment.

The government is expected to pay NPR 2.19 billion for this deal agreed in a government-to-government deal with the US Army’s Pacific Command and is considering the full payment at a time after a series of requests made to the US Government.

The deal, which includes 6,492 M-16, M4 and A4 rifles, is expected to replace age-old rifles with the Nepal Army. “It is urgent that our soldiers get modern rifles while they serve in war-torn countries,” says Gautam.

Apart from procuring weapons, four Sky trucks are also coming to Kathmandu from US.

In his recent trip, Gyawali also requested for an upgrade to Nepal’s only peacekeeping training center in Panchkhal, Kavre.

“We have also asked for Washington’s support to preparing the Army for disaster management,” he added.

Nepali Army had acquired M16 rifles for the first time in 2003 under US Government’s support to control the Maoist insurgency. Under the deal, Washington had provided nearly 17,000 sophisticated rifles to the Sher Bahadur Deuba administration.

Will have to see how the government acts on this matter pertaining to strengthening its own Army.

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In a recent update, the United Nations honored Nepali peacekeepers in South Sudan for their life-saving efforts in the destination country as part of rescue operations during wars for almost a year period.

In an official statement on September 11, 2018, UN said it has given the ‘nimble and robust protection’ award to Nepali security personnel in South Sudan for their act of protecting a humanitarian convoy from the armed group.

Nepali peacekeepers troop succeeded in stopping attackers and saving the lives of many.

“The medal you have been awarded is a symbol of what you have been able to achieve on behalf of the UN for the people of South Sudan. You have served the people of South Sudan so that they can get through this conflict… I hope that you wear these medals with the pride in which we have given them to you,” said David Shearer, Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.

Hailing his countrymen and women part of his security team, the commander of the Nepali contingent Brig Gen Nain Raj Dahal reiterated Nepal’s commitment to supporting global peacekeeping operations.

According to Dahal, around 63 Nepali peacekeepers lost their lives and 66 got disabled in their peacekeeping operations as ‘blue helmets’ across different countries.

 “While deployed, Nepali peacekeepers have never shied away from taking action even at the risk of their own lives when it comes to mandate implementation. This is indicative of Nepal’s strong resolve to continue its participation in maintaining peace across the globe,” said the Brig Gen Dahal.

Nepal’s reserve force battalion in South Sudan was responsible for protecting civilians by patrolling across the country, ensuring safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and facilitating a safe & secure environment for displaced people in UN protection camps.

Also Read:

• Gurkhas of Nepal – Fierceness At its Best!

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Nepal has raised its key concerns at the 72^nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) currently being held in New York.

“As we embark upon a path of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, challenges are the litmus tests for our leadership,” said Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in his address at the 72^nd annual General Debate session held at UNGA.

Addressing sessions held on the sidelines of UNGA, Deuba raised various key issues related to human rights, UNRC membership, migrants, cooperation at times of natural disaster, among others pertaining to the development of Nepal.

“Global community faces a more complex and polarized environment with multiple transnational challenges ranging from terrorism, climate change, energy deficiency, food insecurity, and mass migration to extremism. Unfortunately, our efforts have been too little, and often too late. All these challenges reinforce the role and responsibility of the United Nations,” said PM Deuba.

Nepal’s Candidature for UNHRC

Candidature in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) has been a matter of concern for Nepal. Finally, on the occasion of UNGA, PM Deuba presented Nepal’s candidature to UNHRC for the 2018-2020 term.

In this regard, he said, “Nepal’s first-ever election to the Council would be a recognition to the country’s long commitment and contribution in the field of human rights and an encouragement to do more at national as well as global levels”.

He also pitched in on the need for improvement of human rights situation in Nepal by strengthening National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and protecting the rights of women and other disadvantaged sections of the Nepali society.

The Nepali Prime Minister also pitched in for a ‘zero case scenario’ in case of attacks on civilians, abuse, sexual exploitation and also urged for greater security in case of migrants.

A Special Request Under Peacekeeping Operations

With regard to UN peacekeeping operations, Nepali PM urged UN to ensure fair opportunity to the countries contributing troop and security personnel by placing them at leadership positions, both on-field and at headquarters.

Pitching in for Nepali participation in higher ranks of UN peacekeeping operations, Deuba made an official request to increase the number of Nepali Army deployed in UN missions for which, UN General Secretary responded positively saying that would be taken on utmost priority.

The Permanent Mission of Nepal to UN in New York expressed hope that the request would be addressed soon.

Deuba also urged UN to utilize Nepal’s Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre, the oldest in the region, and also contribute for its development as a regional center of excellence for peacekeeping training.

Nepali Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara reiterated Nepal’s commitment to peacekeeping operations.

Currently, there are more than 5,000 Nepali security personnel deployed in various UN missions globally and Nepal is the largest troop and police contributing country.

Call for Ban on Destructive Weapons

“Nepal welcomes the confidence-building measures on conventional weapons, ending nearly two decades of stalemate in the UN Disarmament Commission. Nepal has signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a step towards nuclear disarmament” said Deuba calling for complete disarmament.

He further said that Nepal, as the host to the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament for Asia-Pacific, would call for reactivation of the regional disarmament deliberations under the Kathmandu Process. 

“Nepal condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and anywhere in the world. The world must come together to address not just its symptoms but the root causes. Early conclusion of the anti-terrorism global convention is the call of our time,” Deuba added.

Migration, Need of the Hour

Stating that there is an urgent need for addressing migration-related issues, the Nepali Prime Minister said Nepal is eagerly waiting for a successful outcome of the 2018 Global Compact on Migration.

“Nepal calls for concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels to ensure that the migration process creates a fair and win-win situation to all. We call for safety, security, dignity and well-being of all migrant workers,” said Deuba.

LLDCs and LDCs Not Getting Benefitted

“Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) have not been developing from the process of globalization,” said Deuba speaking at the UNGA session.

In this regard, he called on UN to ensure that these two groups of countries have partnerships and technology transfer and reliable and sustainable financing to overcome structural impediments.

He further said the South-South cooperation in terms of trade, investment and technology should be fully exploited.

“LDCs are the most vulnerable group of countries. They cannot be perennially equated with dehumanizing conditions of poverty and under development. They must be enabled to smoothly and sustainably graduate at an early date,” he added.

Speaking on bilateral relations with other countries, Deuba said, “Nepal believes in non-alignment. In exercise of our independent foreign policy, we judge every issue on its merit without fear or favor. We consider regional cooperation an important means for building trust and confidence among nations and making the best use of complementarities for shared prosperity.”

Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister Dinesh Bhattarai and Foreign Affairs Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and were among other key Nepali officials who took part in UNGA sessions.

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Securing Nepal’s seat in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) is high on Nepali Prime Minister’s agenda during his upcoming visit to New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Be it announcing candidacy or further extending the tenure of Nepal’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to UN Durga Prasad Bhattarai, the Government of Nepal has been making consistent efforts to win UNHRC membership.

Speaking in this regard, a senior Foreign Ministry official said, “This is our major diplomatic agenda for this year. PM will seek support from the member states in all bilateral meetings and engagements.”

Reiterating their commitment towards securing Nepal’s candidature, other Nepali officials also said, “The country’s delegates will make a pitch that Nepal believes fair opportunity for all interested states to serve in the UN Human Rights Council and would contribute to the common goals of promotion and protection of human rights everywhere.”

Nepal will also be seeking support regarding its bid for UNHRC for the 2018-20 term.

Apart from PM, other senior Nepali officials including Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will also be taking part in various high-level meetings in New York.

Mahara is set to leave for New York on September 17, 2017, wherein, he will be heading the Foreign Ministerial level meeting of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers and also participate in a meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue that Nepal entered in 2006.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Kathmandu on September 19, 2017, and will be addressing UNGA on September 23, 2017.

Ministerial-level meetings of Landlocked Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Non-aligned Movement, G-77, South-South Cooperation, UN Peacekeeping Operations are among key meetings Nepal will be participating in on the sidelines of UNGA. The country is also expected to sign the Treaty on Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons.

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