Nepal revives tank demand

[gubbi]

Nepal revives tank demand

SUJAN DUTTA

New Delhi, Dec. 9: Nepal’s army has revived a five-year-old request for supply of tanks in the run-up to this week’s visit by its chief, General Chhattraman Singh Gurung.

Requests have also been made for artillery guns, Insas rifles, ammunition, troop carriers, bullet-proof jackets and sighting equipment.

India has been supplying “non-lethal” equipment to Nepal, but now has to take a call on whether to resume gifting firearms.

Indian army officers were tickled by the request for tanks today — as they were when the request was first made — with one officer wondering aloud if Mount Everest would be renamed “tank-top” should Nepal’s army drive one of them to the peak.

The joke about tanks possibly arose as they are used in the plains. Seventy-five per cent of Nepal is mountainous. A defence ministry source said Nepal had asked for 100 tanks in two phases at concessional rates.

The source said enquiries were made about Ajeya (T-72), the tanks of Russian origin. The Ajeya is the main tank of the Indian Army but is being replaced by the modern Bhishma (T-90), also of Russian origin.

Nepal’s fresh request underlines just how much the threat perceptions of the country’s army have started to mirror those in the last days of the monarchy in 2005-06.

New Delhi cannot afford to take Nepal’s requests lightly: when it turned down similar requests from Sri Lanka as the island nation was going to war with the LTTE, Colombo was forced to source military equipment from China and Pakistan.


With a 1,700km open border with Nepal, India will be circumspect about increasing Chinese influence in that country.

In its earlier avatar as the Royal Nepal Army, the erstwhile kingdom’s military was almost wholly dependent on India for training and supplies. These were suspended in 2005.

Army chief Gurung will be in India for a week starting Friday. He has a series of high-profile engagements lined up, including one where he will accept from President Pratibha Patil the title of “Honorary Chief of Army Staff” of India on December 14.

Gurung is being granted the kind of access that was reserved for Nepal’s army chiefs in the best days of the military relations between the two nations.

The relations were strained by the accession of King Gyanendra in 2005, the establishment of a republic and the possibility of Maoist cadres being inducted into Nepal’s army.

On December 14, the day he is conferred the title, Gurung will also attend a presentation in the office of the Indian army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, on “Indian Security Perspectives”.

Now why does Nepal really need tanks? How well would tanks work in such a mountainous terrain?

 

[BlackenTheSky]

What nepal's gonna do with these tanks.?

 

[Red Dwarf]

What nepal's gonna do with these tanks.?

I think they meant water tanks.

 

[Iggy]

I think they meant water tanks.

What are they going to do with water tank in a mountain terrain???

 

[hindesi]

What are they going to do with water tank in a mountain terrain???

I think we should give them the bloody tanks.. It doesn't matter how and where they are going to use tanks, I mean they're not going to use it against us in the foreseeable future so whats the big deal.. give them the tanks and bring them closer to us rather than pushing them towards China/Pak.

 

[Iggy]

I think we should give them the bloody tanks.. It doesn't matter how and where they are going to use tanks, I mean they're not going to use it against us in the foreseeable future so whats the big deal.. give them the tanks and bring them closer to us rather than pushing them towards China/Pak.

I agree with you..Nepal being China's puppet will be a nightmare for us

 

[bigmoneymaker]

but now this action of nepal is bargaining with india, means that nepal wont be so willing to become indian puppet now anylonger.....become china equal friend is still better than becoming a puppet state being dominated by indian south asia hegemony...

 

[Comet]

Give them heavy (60 tonnes) tanks. Even they want to use them, they won't be able to!

 

[Novice09]

I agree with you..Nepal being China's puppet will be a nightmare for us

Two puppets, one at right and second at top

 

[mgmech]

I think we should give them the bloody tanks.. It doesn't matter how and where they are going to use tanks, I mean they're not going to use it against us in the foreseeable future so whats the big deal.. give them the tanks and bring them closer to us rather than pushing them towards China/Pak.

India should develop military ties with China's neighbours and assist them in defence matters.... this will teach them a lesson....
In case of Nepal the best thing will be to bring it under Indian security umbrella.....and give them full proof assurance and take guarantee for their security.....and even station our troops there if they wish so so as to give them confidence..... Indis should have such pacts with its small neighbouring countries around it....

 

[New Vision]

I think the tanks will be used mainly for domestic purposes, I would think mostly to repel any internal rebellion. It would be the armys show of strength.

 

[Novice09]

I think the tanks will be used mainly for domestic purposes, I would think mostly to repel any internal rebellion. It would be the armys show of strength.

And I think you got it bulls eye

 

[rajeev]

I also think we should supply military weapons and tanks. In any event, I cant see:
* Nepal going war with India
* Nepal having any chance of winning if it goes war with India.

So, why not sell them tanks with the condition that they will not share the technology with third country.

Look at Russia, they sold an old aircraft carrier to us for 2.5b$ and turned around and building 3 nuclear submarines costing 1 billion each. Nice right?

When we can sell Dhruv to Ecquador, then why not tanks to Nepal.

 

[XYON]

Pakistan should sell them the 100-cal T-69's lying junk. Since the purpose is only to 'display' state authority over miscreants and not actual combat, these honkers will serve the Nepali's well! Are you attentive HIT?

 

[gogbot]

I also think we should supply military weapons and tanks. In any event, I cant see:
* Nepal going war with India
* Nepal having any chance of winning if it goes war with India.

So, why not sell them tanks with the condition that they will not share the technology with third country.

Look at Russia, they sold an old aircraft carrier to us for 2.5b$ and turned around and building 3 nuclear submarines costing 1 billion each. Nice right?

When we can sell Dhruv to Ecquador, then why not tanks to Nepal.

Nepal, wants Arjun ?

Cause what other tank are we gonna sell.

i can think, we may sell some of our old T-72. for that purpose.

But we dont have any other tank to give other than those 2.