Nepal is perched on the edge of a perilous precipice. A dark abyss looks ready to swallow it up unless it pushes itself safely back without losing much time. The brief sunshine seen in the resumption of consensus dialogue has disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. With the breakdown of dialogue, the political firmament is once again shrouded in gloom. The deadlock is due mainly to the ‘delusion and dilemma’ that both the opposition and the ruling parties seem to suffer from. A failure to reach consensus has rendered remote the prospect of a new constitution, the most important part of the peace process. In the resultant uncertainty, the future of the country appears suddenly more forbidding.

The weakest links

This may have several far-reaching implications for the country, internally and internationally. First, there could be serious repercussions on our national unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. National unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, regardless of a country’s size and power, are considered to be as sensitive as they are vulnerable. It isn’t for nothing that they are often called ‘the weakest links in the chain’ that binds a nation. Pressure and constraints can eventually cause the weak links to break. Countries, therefore, keep a constant and close watch on its protection and preservation. Certain internal and external safeguard measures are followed.  Political and economic stability, strong national unity, consensus foreign policy, fierce patriotism, and the practice of a inclusive and pluralistic democratic polity are some internal safeguard measures. Pursuit of a consistent, credible, and balanced foreign policy constitutes external preventive measures against the possible breakdown of the chain.

Cracked mirror

Where does Nepal stand in terms of safeguarding her internal and external vulnerabilities?  It is said that a country’s domestic policy largely mirrors its foreign policy image abroad. We have a situation where the mirror itself seems to have developed several cracks. Internally, Nepal offers a picture of confusion and chaos. Prolonged political instability and transition is comparable to a state of suspended animation. At home and abroad, the government and the Constituent Assembly members are fast losing credibility. Naturally, a cracked mirror will only present a convoluted and distorted image.

We continue to lack coherence, consistency, and national consensus in the conduct of foreign policy. Many of our leaders are seemingly unaware of and knowingly flout diplomatic sensitivities, decorum, and norms in their interaction with foreigners. We have heard of how their undiplomatic behaviour has often led to serious diplomatic consequences. They say one thing while in a position of power and retract it soon after they are out of power. Because others would judge us by what we say and do, a mismatch in our commitment and conduct will contribute only to the erosion of our international profile. We must understand that for weaker countries like Nepal, smarting under prolonged political instability, economic underdevelopment, and social inequalities, earning international goodwill and enhancing national prestige is a mountain to climb. As such, our survival depends mainly upon our ability to show credible, consistent, and balanced behaviour in the conduct of our foreign policy.

The foreign hand

The main links of the chain that holds Nepal’s national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity have become weak. Worse still, the strands that interlock the high mountains, the rolling mid-hills, and the plain Tarai have also come under tremendous pressure. In federating the country, there are proposals for undoing the existing north-south interlocking system. This is a dangerous proposal, in as much as it will cause to unravel the interlocking strands that have so far helped reinforcing and supporting the weakest links of the chain. There is strong apprehension that once this interlocking of the mountains, hills, and Tarai is unraveled, the chain that unites the country will further weaken and may finally snap. In that event, federalism will prove to be a bane, not a boon. Fortunately, many sane political leaders seem to have understood the danger inherent and have, thus far, stood their ground firmly against this fissiparous trend. Many believe that demands for separate provinces in the Tarai, shorn of the hills and mountains, discreetly contain the seeds of separatism and therefore, must not be entertained. Such domestic political uncertainty and ambivalence may have grave implications for the country externally. It can create fertile ground for external meddling.

An old adage in Nepali puts this point of view very succinctly, “Bhai phute, paraai lute” (when brothers fall out, outsiders benefit). We have enough evidence of external elements trying to fish in our troubled political waters. We already saw how a certain chief of a diplomatic mission in Kathmandu tried to simultaneously wear the hat of a missionary chief. Clearly, the call for a separate Madhes province is externally inspired and so is secularism. These are not homegrown ideas but injected discreetly to serve the interest of external elements. People have no inkling and knowledge how the country is going to be better with it! They simply embraced federalism with the hope that it would help minimise and gradually end long existing economic and social inequality, exploitation, exclusion, and marginalisation of people, but certainly not through the separation of the Pahad from the Madhes.

Compromise and concession are the ways of the world. They don’t imply capitulation. Peace and harmony in the family, in society, and finally in the countries of the world are dependent upon mutual compromise and concession. Moreover, they are the soul of democracy. Our leaders must realise this and be prepared to reinvent themselves. It requires transformative changes in the ways they have been thinking and acting thus far. To quote John F Kennedy, the late US President, “It requires profiles in courage”. But can our politicians really show the courage of conviction, purity of thought, and strength of character required for the larger interests of the people and the country?

Thapa is a former Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ([email protected])