| Identity Crisis Over?
Nepal and India have agreed to introduce indentity cards for air travelers and a mechanism of border regulation. But does this eliminate the concern that cross-border crime is perpetrated also by surface wayfarers who require no ID of any sort to cross the open border and sneak into another country? Story by Krishna Shrestha.
Gone are the old days when Nepalis and Indians used to enjoy some special benefits unlike in many countries. If you are a Nepali citizen and planning to visit Indian cities by Air from October 1, 2000, do not forget to carry documents that show your identification.
Indian citizens are not exception to this new arrangement. This is the product of Nepal-India Secretary level talks held in Kathmandu this week.
Indian Home Secretary Kamal Pandey, talking to reporters on Friday (July 7, 2000) at Tribhuvan International Airport, while returning home after completing a four day visit to Nepal, said that agreement has been reached on implementing arrangements for identity cards for Nepalese and Indian citizens travelling by air from October 1, 2000.
Indian Home Secretary Pandey was returning home upon completion of a four-day visit to Nepal in connection with the Nepal-India secretary level talks in Kathmnadu. The talk started on Wednesday, and concluded on Friday with an agreement to further consolidate security arrangements between the two countries and control criminal activities
The Indian Home Secretary said travellers between the two coutries will have to have passports, citizenship certificate or voter identity cards. However, he said no entry tariff would be imposed on the passports.
Nepali Home Secretary Padam Prasad Pokharel confirmed that both the countries had agreed for such provisions during the secretary level talks between Nepal and India.
Observers say this is the first time that government officials from both the countries have announced that identity cards for Nepalese and Indian citizens will be mandatory while travelling by air.
Nepalis and Indian citizens have been enjoying the traditional open border system: about 1,800 long common border between Nepal and India is open since long time back. The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Nepal and India states that "each government undertakes, in token of good neighbourly friendship between India and Nepal, to give to the national of the other, in its territory, national treatment with regard to participation in industrial and economic development of such territory and the grant of concessions and contract relating to such development'. It has also been stated in the agreement that, 'the government of India and Nepal agree to grant, on reciprocal basis, to the nationals of one country in the territories of the other the same privilege in the matters of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature'.
Many believe that the present system of identity card is the result of hijacking of Indian plane on a flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi with about 160 people. Indian Airlines had suspended all the services after the hijacking, which was resumed after five months of the hijacking.
Presently, Royal Nepal Airlines and Necon Air of Nepal and Indian Airlines have been operating flights between Nepal and India. Nepali flag carrier Royal Nepal Airlines has been operating flights between Kathmnadu to New Delhi and Calcutta. It is going to start Kathmandu-Banglore flight shortly. Necon Air, the first private airlines in the business, national as well as in the international sector, has been operating flights between Kathmnadu-Banaras-Kathmandu and Biratnagar-Patna-Biratnagar. Kathmandu is the only only destination for Indian Airlines.
It may be recalled here that Indian tourists are a major source of tourism reveneues for Nepal. In 1998, altogether 143,229 Indian tourists visited Nepal and in 1999 more than 140,000 tourists visited by air. Latest figure for Nepalis people visiting India by air is not available. However, in 1997, altogether 38,501 Nepalese had visited India by air.
Nepal and India have also reached an agreements on border security without affecting daily lives of the people and the business sector, said Home Secretary Pandey.
Related
Web Links
• Nepal Ministry of Home
Affairs
• India Ministry of Home
Affairs
• India Ministry of
External Affairs
Related Stories
• TKP, 07 July: Nepal India agree to
fight terrorism
• The Hindu, 08 July: India, Nepal
moving towards passport regime
• EC, 08 July: Passports must for
travel to Nepal
• TOI 07, July: Want to fly to Nepal?
Get a passport
• BBC, 08, July: Nepal and India
strike border deal
• The Hindu, 07 July India, :Nepal sign pact on
terrorism
• BBC 05 July: India and Nepal
discuss security concerns
• The Hindu, 05 July: Home Secretary
to visit Nepal
• TOI, 05 July: Indian Home Secretary in Nepal for
bilateral talks
• BBC 04 July: Indian-Nepalese talks
on militants
Shrestha is a Newslook contributor based in Kathmandu