Kathmandu: Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) held a high-level seminar in Kathmandu on Tuesday to discuss the growing threat of terrorism in South Asia and its implications for regional peace and security.
The seminar, titled “Terrorism in South Asia: Challenges to Regional Peace and Security”, brought together former ministers, diplomats, security experts, and policymakers, with a shared call for stronger regional cooperation and clear mechanisms to counter terrorism.
Addressing the event, Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Advisor to the President of Nepal and former Minister of Industry, warned that UN-designated terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) continue to operate from Pakistan and could use Nepal as a transit point, posing security risks to the entire region.
Former Defence Minister Dr. Minendra Rijal said any terrorist attack on India would have direct spillover effects on Nepal. He attributed the inactivity of SAARC and the lack of regional economic integration to Pakistan’s promotion of terrorism and urged for a united global response similar to the post-9/11 solidarity.
Parliamentarian and former Minister Chanda Chaudhary emphasized the role of financial crimes like money laundering in fueling cross-border terrorism, while former Minister Shisir Khanal lauded India’s swift response to recent attacks through ‘Operation Sindoor’ and diplomatic measures, calling it a new benchmark in counter-terrorism.
Former diplomat Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai described the recent Pahalgam attack—where victims were reportedly executed after being asked to reveal their religion—as one of the deadliest in recent memory.
Former Foreign Minister NP Saud called for a coordinated regional mechanism to counter terrorism, warning that such threats impact all nations indiscriminately.
Former Major General of the Nepal Army, Dr. Purna Silwal, cautioned against double standards in counter-terrorism policies, stating that consistency is crucial to eradication efforts. Similarly, Ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya stressed the importance of intelligence sharing and joint India-Nepal border patrols.
Sumitra Karki, Director of NIICE, highlighted past incidents such as the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 from Kathmandu and the recent Pahalgam attack that claimed the life of a Nepali citizen, pointing to Nepal’s exposure to terrorist threats.
NIICE Research Director Dr. Pramod Jaiswal labeled Pakistan as the “epicenter of terrorism in South Asia,” citing a recent admission by Pakistan’s Defence Minister acknowledging decades-long state support for terrorist groups.
Over 150 participants attended the seminar, including members of the diplomatic corps, civil society, security forces, journalists, and academics. The discussion underscored an urgent need for collective action, robust policy frameworks, and enhanced regional security coordination.