KATHMANDU: The Indian Mujahedeen (IM) has expanded its area of operation into Nepal, the US Department of State said in a recent report.
The India-based terrorist group that is responsible for dozens of bomb attacks throughout India since 2005 and has caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians has also expanded its area of operations into Nepal, which is now the biggest hub for IM operatives, states the ‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2018’.
The report has stated that airport security controls in Nepal are weak and inadequate. “Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s only international airport, does not pre-screen passengers, and landing data are not entered into any database.” “Physical security checks of passengers are rudimentary.
There is no travel document security and the airport lacks ultraviolet lights to examine documents,” reads the report. According to the report, the Special Bureau of the Nepal Police assigns approximately 10 personnel to the airport and approximately 15 officers to its INTERPOL national central bureau, which is located at Nepal Police headquarters.
INTERPOL notices are maintained in a database, but passengers are not routinely screened through this database. Security and immigration officials are generally responsive to U.S. requests for information, but often have little information to provide, the report states. The report further states that Nepal is at high risk due to an open border with India.
“The primary constraint preventing more robust border-control capability is a lack of resources. The security services lack the personnel, technology, databases, basic equipment, and often even electrical power to provide effective border control. Additional constraints include lack of training and widespread corruption,” according to the report.
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