By Rabi Raj Thapa

During 10 years of armed conflict, Nepal became a pilgrimage and laboratory for global peace advocates, including UNMIN. Now they have all deserted Nepal because they got what they wanted – the dethronement of the monarchy and secularism. In 18 years of Republican rule in Nepal, peace and stability in the country are still roaming around the Square One.

The world has faced four wars and armed conflicts in 2025 – one in the Middle East, one in Europe, followed by the Indo-Pak war and now Malaysia helped to end the Thailand-Cambodia warlike confrontation.

Looking at all these, it is getting hard to believe that today we are living in the 21st century. Everybody is engaged in war and talking about peace. The most powerful person of the most powerful country has shaken the global order politically, militarily and economically. Still, he has enough time to play golf and make world leaders look busy to appease him by all means.

Since Donald Trump became the 47th President, NATO has weakened and looks divided. The charm and glories of NATO under Joe Biden and Jan Stoltenberg have vanished. Despite all efforts to make Zelenskyy a hero against Putin, it also looks faltering.

Despite all, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees and opines that President Donald Trump is worthy of a Nobel Prize for Peace. NATO member countries look euphoric to have a consensus to dedicate five percent of their GDP to defense. It is great news for already rich and powerful countries that have enriched themselves through their military industries. To make NATO successful and prosperous, Europe needs more conflicts and wars around the world. It is obvious that Europe may not like to use all their defense product against one another.

Whatever the reason may be, Asians look smarter than Europeans and the Middle East. India experimented with war against Pakistan in South Asia. The leaders showed their acumen to raise the fever of nationalism and patriotism at a lower cost than the Russia-Ukraine war.

War and conflicts are a costly business. Democracy and freedom have proven euphemistic these days. Names mislead. What is this Humanitarian Foundation, funded and supported by the USA and Israel, doing in Gaza? It invites people to queue to distribute food and feed live bullets. Children die from malnutrition and starvation. USA and Israeli leaders boast of their humanitarian aid of $90 million. South-East Asia is lucky that all ASEAN countries are more focused on economy and development than wrangling and fighting each other. What is the reason Singapore looks more prudent, attracts world attention, whether it is diplomacy, economy or war?

Our leaders, who have been reiterating to make Nepal like Singapore, are now facing a national crisis of corruption and bad governance that Nepal may end up like another Gaza, and Nepalis suffer like Palestinians.

Small and poor countries without guns and butter like Nepal must learn lessons from poor people of poor countries like Palestinians, Sudan, Nepal and many others. Nepal’s ambitious and powerful neighbors will definitely not tolerate anything that threatens their national interests.

Today, no nation is yearning for peace and stability in this world. All countries, small or big, rich or poor, are just running madly after money, political power, and military might. India, China, Europe and the USA all feel good to talk about weapons and armaments when the majority of governments are finding it hard just to survive as a free and independent nation. 

Whatever may be the reason, hunger and starvation are gaining more strength against bombs and bullets in Gaza. People are thinking of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela against Hitler’s NAZI and Apartheid South Africa. Now people have started to turn the pages of history books to compare Gaza with Hitler’s concentration camps.