As international lobbying mounts for sending Nepali Army personnel to war-stricken Iraq, the government today came out clearly on the issue. Nepali soldiers will be assigned there only if they are kept strictly under United Nations command and flag and as a stationary force.

“Nepal has been sending troops to various international peacekeeping missions under the UN flag and command. If the request for Iraq comes, we won’t have any problem deploying troops there,” The prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser Milan Tuladhar said, adding, “But, we won’t send troops either under US or NATO command.” The UN wants around 222 Nepali troops to replace current the Fijian force in Iraq. The Australian embassy has been lobbying actively for months in this regard. But, they have not clarified whether Nepali troops will remain under the UN Flag or under NATO, and as a stationary or a mobile force.

Nepal has asked the Australian government and the UN on this, but officials say they are yet to get “clear and convincing response”.

UN Under-Secretary-General B Lynn Pascoe had also inquired with Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung on the issue during their meeting last week in New York. Gurung’s response was similar to Tuladhar’s statement, according to a source.

Published on: 5 April 2011 | The Himalayan Times