Addressing a press meet after a
crucial border meeting with the Nepali delegation in New Delhi yesterday, the
head of the Indian team, Pranay Sahay, who is the director general of Armed
Border Force Sashastra Seema Bal, voiced such concerns.
This is the first time a top
Indian official made such a public statement on the alleged Chinese influence
in Nepal.
"Yes, we are concerned. We
have already shared this information as a leading agency in this regard,"
said Sahay, answering a query of an Indian journalist whether India was
concerned with the alleged increasing number of Chinese study centres in
southern Nepal.
"This [information on
Chinese activities] has reached all appropriate mechanisms. Also, a mechanism
has been worked out at a higher level to implement this," he added.
Sahay, however, did not elaborate
why the alleged Chinese activities were worrisome for India. He claimed that
this particular issue was not raised during yesterday's talks with the Nepali
team. Nepali officials confirmed that the issue did not emerge.
The talks, however, saw the
discussion on a string of border related issues, including greater cooperation
in combating terrorism, arms smuggling, insurgency, smuggling of fake currency
and human trafficking.
"The talks were fruitful. We
agreed to further enhance our cooperation and coordination in border related
thorny issues," said Koshraj Onta, leader of the Nepali team and chief of
the Armed Police Force.
Meanwhile, in his solo press meet
after the talks, border force head Sahay commended Nepali security personnel on
a "fairly high seizure and recovery of fake Indian currency in comparison
to the previous years".
Asked about the harassment
Nepalis are facing at the hands of the border force personnel, Sahay said that
he had considered the issue "very seriously" and had even taken stern
action against the perpetrators.
Border pillar data differ In the
meeting, both the sides put forward their own claims about the number of border
pillars. According to a source privy to the meeting, the Indian side put the
figure at 6,800 plus while the Nepali side rebutted with a 5,000 plus figure.
Both the sides, however, have agreed to sort out the problem after conducting a
joint study on the ground.
'Indian insurgents in Nepal'
Sahay claimed the possibility of
insurgents active in north-eastern Indian states residing in Nepal. "In
the past, we even brought some Northeast militants to India from Nepal,"
he said.
Rise in border force strength
India has already moved ahead
with its plan to increase the number of border force personnel stationed along
the border with Nepal. "Within a few years, this number will go up to
35,000 from the current 30,000," he said. This means the battalion number
will rise to more than 35 from the current 29.
The plan to construct 89 new
border outposts is also under way.
"Till now, 25 have been
constructed. The whole process will complete by 2015," said Sahay.
Next meeting in 2013
Both the sides have agreed to
hold the next meeting in Nepal next year. However, the specific date and venue
will be decided later. Yesterday's meeting is the first of its kind at the
level of the chief of border guarding forces of the two immediate neighbours.
Though core talks wrapped up yesterday, other crucial meetings will continue
today and tomorrow.
Manesh Acharya
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