MCC and Border Dispute Strategic Matters for Nepal

 The diplomatic effort to regain Lipulake Kalapani and Limpiyadhura and the MCC controversy is very serious strategic issues for Nepal. To deal with two issues at once might be a risk for Nepal. India is a major pillar of American interest in this region that is why both behind the scenes interrelated.

The streets in Nepal are bearing two types of demonstrations, especially in Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal at this time. The anti-India sentiment fume is in climax after a Lipulake link-road was inaugurated by India; Nepal has been claiming on that north-western frontier land for a long time. In the meantime, another issue of the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant also is heating the streets of Nepal, which was signed in 2017 with America and about to table for endorsement on Nepalese Parliament now.       

There is a grave controversy between the ruling Communist Party on the MCC whereas the main opposition party Nepali Congress is overall standing in favor of issue to pass from the parliament. Although a few leaders who were direct or indirectly related to the MCC process in the past are also opposing now, that the Project is the danger for the Nepalese sovereignty, it is mysterious. The government is responsible to own as a legacy of the issue and trying to pass from parliament.

Indo-Nepal Map war is also floating on the surface this time, but it is not only confined within Map war for Nepal, but the evidence is indicating that the land is in the right of Nepal. But the land is not only unilaterally using by India but claiming on it too. On this issue, the low-grade emotional comments in social media are creating a storm might throwing a negative effect on the long-running people to people relations of both sides.

 

Nepal is very well-known about the Indian “delay diplomacy” to hang a thin rope of thrust. Nepal is likely ready to amend the constitution through the first trek that will not in favor of India. Amid the contribution Nepal is supporting the candidacy of India as a non permanent member of Security Council, which is a message of bilateral talk. Overall the Indo-Nepal border tussle might be a long-term issue between two countries.   

 

                 Categories of Common Thoughts in Nepal

In the cartographic tussle with India: The sentiment of Nepalese people is divided on this issue into three different schools at this time. The first is a radical school the not believe that India as its character never wants to sit for a fruitful talk. The second is more comprehensive than the first. They are humble to the long live people to people relation between India and Nepal, and they think the claim of Nepal is correct but there is no other alternative of the amicable bilateral talk because Nepal and India are strategic and geo-cultural unavoidable for each other. Nepal should follow the quiet diplomacy after the publication of the map. The third category that is always suffering from the Stockholm syndrome (Nils Bejerot, a Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist defined the phrase as a captive starts loving its abductor) does not accept any negativity of India and regards India a sentinel of its mini interest.

 

MCC internal dispute: After the signing of MCC governments had not seen any defect in the agreement for a long time, is mysterious. A unit of MCC was already formed, and funding also is doing by the governments. Few American responsible persons are saying that the MCC is under the Indo-Pacific Strategy a bloc that wants to neutralize the Chinese effect in this region. The bloc is also related to the security concern. As a follower of “Panchaseel” theory Nepal does not participate any security related forum against neighboring country. Most of the people believe that the US will keep its army for a long time in the pretense of MCC in Nepal.

 

 There are few loopholes in MCC against the national interest that affects Nepal for a long time. USA is not maintaining truth and power in later years. President Trump is openly threatening to countries that are under US grants and loans, to support Washington’s international policy. With the raising of Chinese strength on the world USA is increasing aggressive behavior the world policy. However US show itself a protector of Democracy in the world but its foreign policy always guided with expansionist interest.

                                    Changing Mood of Nepal

Perhaps the sentiment of Nepal is changing with the passing of time. The new Nepalese generation is in concern to build up some confidence of national sovereignty. Recently up roaring sentiment against internal corruption, discrimination; border problem with India and MCC are indicating that. Irritating old types of Indian policy is provoking Nepal against India. But the result is roaming in the uncertainty. Among the blind egos of India and America, will Nepal stands on the point?