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Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan-based terror outfits could use Nepal to launch attacks on India: Nepalese official
Representative image NEW DELHI: In a blunt warning that has confirmed the worst fears of Indian security establishment, a senior Nepalese govt advisor has cautioned that Pakistan-based terrorist organisations were likely to exploit Nepal's geography to launch attacks on India. During a seminar on challenges to regional peace and security in South Asia in Kathmandu, Sunil Bahadur Thapa, principal political advisor to the president of Nepal and former minister of industry, said Pakistan-based UN-designated terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) posed risks to India and could potentially use Nepal as a transit point for their nefarious objectives. The vulnerability of Nepal to terrorism was highlighted through specific incidents, such as hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 from Kathmandu. Pakistani terrorist groups have been known to utilise Nepal as a transit route to infiltrate into India. Notable cases include the arrest of Abdul Karim Tunda, a top LeT operative involved in over 40 bombings in India, who was held on the India-Nepal border in 2013. The case of Mirza Dilshad Beg, an assassinated Indian-Nepali parliamentarian who had links with Dawood Ibrahim's D-company and ISI, is another case in point. Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of Indian Mujahideen, was apprehended by Nepal police in 2013 and handed over to Indian authorities. In April 2024, Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested two Pakistani nationals - Mohammed Altaf Bhat and Sayyed Gajanfar - along with their aide Nasir Ali, near the Nepal border. A Nepalese citizen was among those who were targeted on the basis of their Hindu faith by jihadis in Pahalgam in April this year. The seminar, organised by Nepal Institute for International Cooperation & Engagement, brought together experts, policymakers and former officials to discuss the threat of terrorism in the region. Speakers emphasised that terrorism in the region has far-reaching consequences, including economic losses, and hindered regional integration and stressed the need for global unity and cooperation to combat terrorism, citing the importance of intelligence sharing and joint border patrolling between India and Nepal. Speakers at the seminar included Thapa; Minendra Rijal, former defence minister of Nepal; Chanda Chaudhary, member of Parliament; Shisir Khanal, former minister; Dinesh Bhattarai, former diplomat; N P Saud, former minister of foreign affairs; Purna Silwal, former major general of the Nepal army; and Madhu Raman Acharya, former foreign secretary of Nepal.
News18
11-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Terror Groups Lashkar, Jaish May Use Nepal Route To Target India, Warns Nepalese Official
Last Updated: Speakers at the seminar noted that terror attacks in India often have spillover effects on Nepal, undermining regional peace and stability Pakistan-based terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) pose serious risks to India and could use Nepal as a transit route, warned Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Advisor to the President of Nepal. Thapa made the remarks during a high-level seminar organised by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) in Kathmandu on July 9. The event focused on addressing terrorism threats in South Asia and saw participation from key regional experts and policymakers. Speakers at the seminar noted that terror attacks in India often have spillover effects on Nepal, undermining regional peace and stability. They pointed to Pakistan's support for terrorism as a major hurdle to the effectiveness of SAARC and broader regional integration. The seminar urged stronger counter-terrorism cooperation, including stricter action against money laundering, enhanced intelligence sharing, and joint patrolling of borders with India. It also called on regional actors to avoid applying double standards while tackling terrorism. India's recent Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian armed forces struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, was cited as a forceful and effective response to cross-border threats. At the same time, participants were reminded that Nepal remains vulnerable due to incidents like the IC-814 hijacking and the LeT-led Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Concluding the discussion, participants stressed the urgent need for a dedicated regional mechanism to combat terrorism in a unified and effective manner. India and Nepal share a 1,751 km-long open border, which operates with minimal security checks. This porous boundary makes it easier for terrorists to infiltrate India, often using forged Nepalese documents to conceal their identities. Over the years, several operatives from Pakistan-based outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been arrested while attempting to enter India through Nepal. A notable example is the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814. The aircraft, which was en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was hijacked after the perpetrators boarded with weapons– exposing serious lapses in security at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Lashkar, Jaish Terror Groups Headquarters and training facilities of the LeT and JeM were targeted during India's precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7 in Pakistan and PoK. These two terror groups have carried out several attacks in India, including the Parliament attack in 2001, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot Air Base Attack and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the LeT, had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, where terrorists shot down 26 tourists in the picturesque resort town in Jammu and Kashmir. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 13:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
‘Pakistan's Lashkar, Jaish pose threat to India, Nepal must not become transit for terror'
The warning from the Nepali official came while speaking at a high-level seminar organised by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) in Kathmandu on July 9. read more Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan, Nepalese officials warned that terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) pose serious risks to India and can use Nepal as a transit route. The warning came from Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Advisor to the President of Nepal. Thapa made the warning while speaking at a high-level seminar organised by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) in Kathmandu on July 9. According to the information obtained by CNNNews18, the event focused on addressing terrorism threats in wider South Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The event featured a host of participants, regional experts and policy makers who raised concerns over growing instances of terrorist attacks across South Asia. Nepal faces the spillover effect. At the seminar, several speakers noted how terror attacks in India often have spillover effects on Nepal. They noted that terrorist incidents undermine regional peace and stability in both India and Nepal. The experts emphasised that Pakistan's support for terrorism poses a major hurdle to the effectiveness of SAARC and broader regional integration. At the seminar, Nepalese officials called for counter-terrorism cooperation, including stricter action against money laundering, enhanced intelligence sharing, and joint patrolling of borders with India. It also urged regional actors to avoid applying double standards while tackling terrorism. According to CNNNews18, several experts cited the success of Operation Sindoor, calling it an effective response to cross-border threats. Why Nepal should be concerned It is pertinent to note that India and Nepal share a 1,751 km-long open border, which operates with minimal security checks. The porous borders make it easier for terrorists to infiltrate into the Indian territories. The terrorists often use forged Nepalese documents to conceal their identities. Over the years, several operatives from Pakistan-based outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been arrested while attempting to enter India through Nepal. One of the tragic examples is the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814. The aircraft bound to Delhi from Kathmandu was hijacked after the terrorists boarded with weapons, exposing serious lapses in security at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
LeT-Jaish terrorists from Pakistan may use Nepal as transit to enter India
The Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) organized a high-level seminar on 'Terrorism in South Asia: Challenges to Regional Peace and Security' on July 9 in Kathmandu. Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Advisor to the President of Nepal and former Minister of Industry, shared that Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which are UN-designated terrorist organizations, have historical ties to Al-Qaida and operate in Pakistan, posing risks to India and potentially using Nepal as a transit point. Dr. Minendra Rijal, Former Defence Minister of Nepal, stressed that a terrorist attack on India will have spillover effects on Nepal. He noted that Pakistan's promotion of terrorism has not only made SAARC inactive but also hindered regional economic integration and caused significant economic loss for Pakistan. He called for global unity—similar to the solidarity seen after the September 11 attacks in the United States—to combat terrorism effectively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Design & Build Your Dream Office Officebanao Book Now Undo Chanda Chaudhary, Member of Parliament and former Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, highlighted the importance of curbing money laundering as a means to prevent cross-border terrorism. Shisir Khanal, former Minister, appreciated India's immediate and forceful response, including military action through 'Operation Sindoor' and diplomatic expulsions of Pakistan has established a new threshold in regional counter-terrorism. Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai, former Diplomat and Advisor to Former Prime of Nepal shared Pahalgam attack was the deadliest attack in recent years, because the victims were brutally killed after asked them to disclose their religion and shot in their head. NP Saud, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Irrigation, stated that Nepal and regional powers should develop a clear mechanism to control terrorism, warning that terrorism affects everyone indiscriminately. Live Events Dr. Purna Silwal, former Major General of the Nepal Army, emphasized that countries must avoid double standards in counter-terrorism efforts if terrorism is to be eradicated. Ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya, former Foreign Secretary of Nepal stressed on the need for intelligence sharing and joint border patrolling between India and Nepal. He added that in the fight against terrorism we are with India. Sumitra Karki, Director of NIICE, referred to the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 from Kathmandu by Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and the April terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba that killed 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, to highlight Nepal's vulnerability to terrorism. Dr. Pramod Jaiswal, Research Director at NIICE, stated that Pakistan has been the epicenter of terrorism in South Asia, with a history of nurturing and harboring terrorists. He also cited a recent admission by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who publicly acknowledged that Pakistan had supported, funded, and trained terrorists for nearly three decades for the US, UK, and Western interests. The seminar brought together senior political leaders, former ministers, security experts, academicians, and scholars, and was attended by over 150 participants, including members of the diplomatic community, civil society, policymakers, security personnel, journalists, and academics.
