Nepalese See Pakistan as South Asia's Greatest Security Threat

[W.G.Ewald]

How serious a threat are the Maoists in Nepal?

 

[sob]

Any reason why they are pissed with Chinese ? and what about their views of Indians ?

Chinese have been throwing their weight in Kathmandu and the locals resent it. To give you an example, outside my Hotel a Chinese rammed his Pajero to an Indian's Maruti van. The Chinese was high on drinks and was very aggressive even when the cops were called in, threatening them by reporting to the Chinese embassy. The cops told us that this was a regular occurrence and they had to ignore it due to pressure from he top.

But the cops had the last laugh, looking at his high state they quickly dispensed a few lusty blows, packed him into his vehicle and they left very happy, with their job done for the day.

 

[Yusuf]

What I found interesting was that Nepalis considered Afghanistan and India equally threatening (even if a low 12%). This shows that at a public level, the Indian image has taken a beating as well.

The open border is of course a problem and it may be time to look a regularizing the border once again. Like the saying goes, good fences make good neighbors.

I would say that's a pretty low percentage considering all our neighbors view us with wary eyes.

With the Maoists propaganda including the issue of the friendship treaty I thought that figure would have been higher.

 

[KS]

LMAO @ 10% voting Bhutan as the biggest threat.

C'mon Jetsun Pema is cho chweet...

 

[sob]

Karthic they have issues with Bhutan. In parts of Bhutan, people from Nepal had settled in and last year they were all driven out of Bhutan by the security forces. So yes they have issues with Bhutan.

 

[sob]

How serious a threat are the Maoists in Nepal?

Maoists have not yet been neutralised and represent a serious problem for the elected Govt. The Maoists demand that their armed cadre be merged with the Royal Nepal Army, which the Army has been resisting successfully, so far. All over Southern parts of Nepal, the Maoists have put up posters denouncing the Govt. and as long as they are not disarmed they remain a threat for peace and stability. As per the locals the UN has had a dubious role with disarming the Maoists.

 

[Ray]

Link or eyewitness account? Serious stuff if true.

Saudis stoke South Asian fears

According to reports, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in New Delhi is pushing - somewhat tentatively - India's Human Resource Development Ministry and Minorities Commission to set up new madrassas (seminaries) in India. The same reports claim the Saudi royal family has cleared plans to construct 4,500 madrassas in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka at a cost of US$35 million, to promote "modern and liberal education with Islamic values". ...

The Saudi money would be dispersed through nine Jamaat-e-Ulema organizations in the four countries,
Asia Times Online - The best news coverage from South Asia

There are more reports if one Googles.

One says that 1900 madrassas are coming up on the India Nepal border.

The Saudis are spreading their form of Islam Wahabbi across the world including in Muslim countries.

Europe and China have refused Saudi offer of money to promote religious activities to 'project a benign image of Islam'.

 

[Ray]

Maoist continue to reign supreme in Nepal, but the picture is quite interesting wrt India.

The new PM will first visit India (as was the custom) unlike Prachanda, who put China first.

And as per today's new, the Nepalese PM is not only meeting the PM of India, but the top four Cabinet Ministers, namely the Finance, Defence, Foreign and Home.

The papers add that this is a departure from protocol where foreign dignitaries meet only the PM.

 

[Dovah]

How serious a threat are the Maoists in Nepal?

They are the government now.