By PR Pradhan PUSHPARAJ-PRADHAN Bangladesh is not a country not far away from Nepal. The Indian chicken-neck has stood as a barrier in between the two countries, Nepal and Bangladesh. We would have enjoyed common international borders if there was no Indian chicken-neck. Before the independence of India got its independence, many Nepali businessmen were involved in trade from the land which is now known as Bangladesh. Our national cap “Dhakka Topi” was made from the clothes imported from Dhaka. Dhakka saree, dhakka cholo (blouse) are still famous in Nepal. Nepal used to import sweets from Dhaka. Some noted businessmen including Hulaschand and Ramlal Golcha had their “Gaddi” in Dhaka as they were involved in jute trading. Only after independence of India and the declaration of when the present Bangladesh was declared as the East Pakistan, then politically Dhaka acca politically became far from Nepal as the Indian chicken-neck appeared in between the two countries. This columnist was seriously shocked when the terrorists launched a bloody attack on a restaurant in Dhakaacca killing 20 people on the night of 1 July night. In Tthe SAARC member countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan and even India are already in the hit list of the IS. Presently, the terrorist groups are expanding their wings in other countries including Bangladesh. Nepal should not think that she is safe from the IS target, rather, IS may develop Nepali soil as a front to carryout terrorist activities in India and also in China. We have porous and open international borders with India. The Indians say that such open borders are the example of excellent relations between Nepal and India. Even today, they are claiming that Nepal has taken maximum benefit from such open borders, therefore, the open borders should not be closed. Meanwhile, the Indians are always alleging that the international terrorist groups are launching terrorist attacks in India by enjoying the open border facility provided only for the citizens from each other’s country. The other Indian allegation is trafficking of fake Indian currency via the Nepal India international borders. When India is aware about such activities taking place from Nepal, she should take such activities as wake-up calls and take initiatives to seal the borders. Of course, Nepalis staying in borders may beget troubled but the Nepal government should address their problem once the borders are closed. Talking about China, in the post-earthquake period when the Chinese rescue team recovered documents related to free-Tibet move in Tatopani area, the Chinese authorities decided to close the Khasha border pass. Also, to keep aloof the people aloof in Khasha from the Dalai Lama’s reach, the Chinese authority has shifted the entire village in Khasha to the inner part of Tibet. Likewise, the Chinese authorities had opened the Korala Pass in Mustang district for a month with the purpose of celebratingon of the yearly festival there. When the Chinese authority saw pro-Dalai Lama people in the Chinese territory, just in 15 days, the pass was closed. Nepal has maintained “one China policy” and Nepal has recognized Tibet as an internal part of China. In practice, our leaders have failed to maintain it. Those leaders under the influence of some western countries are found openly supporting the Dalai Lama and when they are in power, they are found allowing supporters of Dalai Lama to carry-out free-Tibet activities from Nepali soil. To recall, in 2008, when Girija Prasad Koirala was the prime minister and Krishna Prasad Shitaula was the home minister, the government had allowed Tibetans arriving from Dharamshala to launch demonstration onin a daily basis. by the Tibetans arrived from Dharamshala. In 2008, on the eve of the Beijing Olympics, Lhasha witnessed bloody armed unrest. The Chinese authorities have recovered the evidences that the agitators had received arms from Nepal. Since then, the Chinese authorities have remained alert. If our government fails to ensure China that Nepal would not allow anti-China elements to carry-out their activities from the Nepali soil, sheChina will not open her border passes for trade with Nepal. As it is Nepal’s compulsion to trade with China, Nepal should curb the free-Tibet activities taking place from her soil. China doesn’t want to make business deal with Nepal at the cost of threats on her the security. Territorial security is the prime issue for China rather than the trade with Nepal like vulnerable country. Not to forget, during the monarchy era, the kings had respected the security sensitiveness of both the neighbours – China and India. Along with introduction of multiparty democracy, the political leaders were failed to understand the security sensitiveness of our neighbouring countries. Although Nepal and China enjoy excellent relations, China never compromises on her security sensitiveness. Therefore, if Nepal wants to promote trade relations with China via our northern borders, first of all, Nepal should end free-Tibet activities taking place in the country. Accordingly, if our security organs have failed to check the movements of the international terrorist groups and also if India feels that Nepal is becoming a hub for trafficking fake currency to India, India should close her borders with Nepal instead of alleging Nepal every time on the same issue. As India is in the hit list of the IS and other terrorist groups, she should take such warnings as an alarm and keep her borders safe from the movement of the terrorists and fake currency traffickers. In the meantime, our government as well as the security organs have to be alert on possible international terrorist attacks on Nepal as well on India and China by using our soil.