Maoist leaders have not only increased their consultations with leaders of political parties but also started a new round of diplomatic initiatives with foreign ambassadors. As soon as reservations were expressed by leaders of some of the constituents of the seven-party alliance (SPA) about certain provisions of the 8-point agreement or the way it was signed, Maoist chairman Prachanda and politburo member Dr Baburam Bhattarai met top SPA leaders, and this is believed to have helped clear up some of the misgivings between them. Since Wednesday, Dr Bhattarai and coordinator of the Maoist talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara have started a round of meetings with the chiefs of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, beginning with Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, and Mahara and another Maoist leader Suresh Ale Magar met Lena Sundh, the ambassador of and adviser to the foreign ministry of Sweden.

These political and diplomatic forays tend to suggest that the Maoists realise the need to project an image of a responsible political force aspiring to come to power and be acceptable to important foreign powers. This should indeed be viewed positively. During the past rounds of failed talks, too, they had met some foreign diplomats. The Maoists are reported to have discussed the current political situation, including issues of a ‘democratic republic’, consolidation of peace, and constituent assembly elections. They also requested the Indian ambassador to release all Maoists languishing in various Indian jails, and the latter is reported to have said that he would take an initiative in this regard, besides saying that India wanted to see the gains of the people’s movement institutionalised.

There exist some serious doubts about Maoist intentions among certain sections at home and abroad, particularly among countries vitally important to Nepal, such as India and the US. And these meetings should be utilised to allay their fears. On the other hand, though, the Maoists deeply distrust certain foreign powers, particularly the US, which, according to them, are out to do them down and to bring off their surrender rather than facilitate a political solution. If permanent peace, democracy and prosperity are to be achieved in Nepal, it has to be impressed on the Maoists, especially by powers which exert tremendous clout in Nepal, that they will not be deceived. The Maoists, on their part, should remove the apprehensions that they may still be harbouring totalitarian tendencies. The Maoists, according to Prachanda and Mahara, will also ‘try their best’ to meet the American ambassador. He, and for that matter, any other diplomat, would be contributing to peace and democracy much more by engaging the Maoists and helping them embrace democracy instead of by refusing to meet them and talking in threatening tones at them.