China making efforts to wean away Nepal's Army?

New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Is China making efforts to gain
influence in Nepal's Army by taking advantage of Maoists being
in power?

Worries in this regard have been triggered following a
flurry of visits by senior Chinese military officials to
Kathmandu during the last few months.

Senior Chinese military officials and diplomats have been
visiting Nepal through the Tibet-Nepal Highway frequently in
the recent times, sources said here.

Senior officials of the Nepalese army have also visited
Chinese military academies for training in the recent past,
they said.

These developments are seen here as an attempt by China
to gain influence in the Nepalese army, which has so far had
very close links with India.

China appears keen to have to a Maoist installed as the
chief of the army of its neighbouring country.

Nepal President Pushp Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', formerly
the leader of Maoists, has been wanting to install erstwhile
Maoist commander Nanda Kishor Pun alias Passang as the Nepal
Army chief.

However, strong opposition from mainstream political
parties and pro-royal Army officers is preventing such a
development, sources said.

The issue of Prachanda's move to install his own man as
Army chief was also raised in Nepal's Parliament and was
opposed there, the sources said.

India too is uneasy at the prospect of a Maoist heading
the Nepalese Army, considering the special relation between
the two countries.

New Delhi feels that if a Maoist becomes the army chief,
the military in the Himalayan country would lean towards
China. Also such a development could allow liberty for
anti-India activities and propaganda by foreign forces
inimical to New Delhi, sources said.

Pun was the commander of the armed cadre during their
decade-long guerrilla struggle against former monarch King
Gyanendra and his troops.

In view of the opposition, the Maoist leadership is
believed to be trying to reach out to the supporters of
dethroned King Gyanendra to ensure that its objectives are
met.

Already a debate is going on in Nepal whether the former
armed Maoist cadres should be integrated with the regular
army.

The new government's tilt towards China is already
indicated by its sudden silence of protest over Chinese
occupation of the northern face of Mount Everest, from where
Beijing is allowing foreign tourists to visit the world's
highest peak. PTI AJD
RKM
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