Military

Nepal gov't procuring military articles from China, Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Jan 23, IRNA
Nepal-Arms-China-Pakistan
The royal Nepalese government has started procuring military articles from other countries, including China and Pakistan.

Just a month before King Gyanendra launched repressive measures on political activities in the Himalayan kingdom, Nepal purchased a substantial quantity of ammunition and grenades from China, media reports said here today quoting official sources.

Part of the purchase, a consignment of at least 18,000 grenades and 4,000 rounds of ammunition, has already been delivered to the Royal Nepal Army, they said.

From Pakistan, the royal government purchased non-lethal military accessories recently, the sources said.

Unconfirmed reports said Nepal has also procured defence equipment from Israel, the sources said.

Nepal has been traditionally dependent on India for its defence needs with India providing it in the form of aid. During the last few years before the royal coup, India supplied military wares worth Rs 450 crore to Nepal.

Sources in the Indian government said China and others were only selling the military wares to Nepal out of business considerations and were not giving aid as India has been doing all along up until February 1, 2005, when Gyanendra seized power.

New Delhi believes that the king is using such tactics in an attempt to influence change in India's approach, particularly on military supplies which were frozen last year.

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