"Terrorism may not originate in Nepal. It directly affects the country through its migrant population and regional dynamics"
KATHMANDU, JUNE 3
In light of rising terrorism activity in South Asia, a seminar held in Kathmandu emphasised that the ongoing threat of terrorism in South Asia could have serious consequences for Nepal.
The discussion held in Kathmandu by the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF) in the wake of growing attacks on 'Terrorism in South Asia and its Implications for Nepal' emphasised Nepal's vulnerabilities and the need for effective countermeasures.
Former ambassador Vijay Kant Karna emphasised the serious and evolving nature of terrorism in South Asia and its direct effects on Nepal. According to him, Nepal is extremely vulnerable as a potential transit point for terrorist operatives. He cited instances like the IC 814 hijack and the victimisation of Nepali citizens in terrorist acts, such as the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and the 2006 Jammu and Kashmir attack on migrant workers.
N.P. Saud, a lawmaker and former Foreign Minister of Nepal, stressed that terrorism in South Asia poses a serious spillover risk for Nepal, warning that "vulnerabilities are no longer only at others' homes-we are also open to them."
He underlined systemic flaws in immigration management, referencing past lapses like the IC 814 incident, where Nepal failed to classify the perpetrators as terrorists or coordinate diplomatically with the country of origin of the terrorists. He called for integrated immigration-security mechanisms and cautioned that ad hoc responses yield no long-term protection.
Raj Kishore Yadav, a legislator, noted Nepal's silence on the Pahelgam attack as a diplomatic misstep and lamented Parliament's continued failure to frame terrorism as a national issue.
"Nepal should have been more assertive and explicitly sided with the victim side," he said.
Shanker Das Bairagi, former National Security Advisor and foreign secretary, emphasised Nepal's normative commitments to international conventions but admitted that the implementation gap 'depreciates our credibility.' As per Bairagi, immigration and intelligence are critical vulnerabilities and called for institutional reforms to enhance data sharing and deterrence capabilities.
Former ambassador Durga Bhattarai stating that 'terrorism anywhere is terrorism everywhere' raised questions about Nepal's reactive posture and lack of extradition consistency.
Former ambassador Dinesh Bhattarai expressed that the ideological roots of South Asian terrorism are the differences in religion, and statistically noted, Hindus are the clear target.
Retired Major General Binoj Basnyat emphasised the changing nature of warfare in South Asia, shaped by technology, proxy conflicts, and big power rivalries, pointing out that Nepal's counterterrorism efforts currently rely heavily on soft diplomacy but lack proactive mechanisms.
"We must revisit the way our security is maintained," he said, emphasising that Nepal's experience with past insurgencies does not adequately prepare it for emerging transnational threats.
Former ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya urged Nepal to take a principled stance on regional terrorism, particularly in cases like the Pahelgam attack, stating that "Nepal should have clearly sided with India" and used such incidents as diplomatic openings to build trust with India.
Columnist and Writer Amish Mulmi, expressing his sentiment, pointed out that although terrorism may not originate in Nepal, it directly affects the country through its migrant population and regional dynamics. "As terrorism has clarity in target based on religion, counterterrorism efforts should also have clarity in response," he noted.
According to Mulmi, the regional security landscape is undergoing a doctrinal shift, where India now treats any act of terror as an act of war and no longer differentiates between state-backed and non-state actors.
Apekshya Shah, head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tribhuvan University, called for better intelligence coordination and academic capacity-building. She said that there was the need to counter radicalisation, misinformation, and security illiteracy through research-based academic and policy discourse.
