Kathmandu – The Nepal–India Development Forum organized a seminar in Kathmandu on “State of Terrorism in South Asia and Long-term Solutions”. The event, held on Sunday at Hotel Tapas in Battisputali, brought together top leaders from various political parties to share their views.
Chairman of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal and former Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav stated that India should take the lead in reducing terrorist activities in South Asia. He cautioned against linking terrorism to any particular ideology or movement, emphasizing that whether it emerges in the name of nationalism, religion, or separatism, its nature is always inhumane and anti-human. Yadav noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan are most affected, while Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh have also experienced such activities.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Mukti Party Nepal Rajendra Mahato stressed the need to prevent the emergence of terrorism. He remarked that sometimes states themselves create terrorism by resorting to force against peaceful movements. Mahato underlined that no form of terrorism should exist in Nepal.
Nepali Congress leader and former Defense Minister Dr. Minendra Rijal said that strong India–China relations are essential for peace and stability in South Asia. He described the Maoist armed movement as a political rebellion and clarified that Nepal’s territory would not be used for any terrorist or security attack against India—or any other country. Rijal also warned that strained India–China relations could negatively affect Nepal’s development and other sectors.
Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi, presenting his paper, argued that terrorism is not only a security challenge but also a complex issue connected to political, social, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. He pointed out that Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives are affected by cross-border terrorism, separatist movements, religious extremism, and state-sponsored activities.
The program was chaired by Nepal–India Development Forum Chairman Ram Kishor Singh and conducted by Nirmala Subedi. Speakers highlighted that South Asia is becoming a hotspot for terrorism and stressed the need for effective coordination at both regional and international levels to find a permanent solution to this problem.
