KATHMANDU: The US has warned that Nepal could be used as a transit or staging point for international terrorists due to the open border with India and insufficient security protocols at the country’s sole international airport in Kathmandu.

The ‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2019′ made public by the US Department of State said that Nepal appears to be largely infertile soil for terrorism propagated by international terrorist organizations.

“The government generally does not view terrorism, specifically “extremist” ideology originating from conflict or instability in the Middle East, as a significant threat in Nepal,” states the report, “Nepal appears to be largely infertile soil for terrorism propagated by international terrorist organizations. A more significant threat is non-Nepali international terrorist groups using Nepal as a transit or staging point or soft target.”

The report adds that Nepal government generally does not view terrorism, specifically “extremist” ideology originating from conflict or instability in the Middle East, as a significant threat in Nepal.

Nepal experienced no acts of international terrorism in 2019, the report stated, adding that political violence in Nepal remained small in scale and involved attacks on large-scale infrastructure, government offices, or locations affiliated with political parties or officials.

“Violence occurring on or around the 2019 by-elections focused on voter intimidation and, in some cases, political extortion. The Government of Nepal attributed the majority of the attacks to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), a political faction better known as “Biplav,” led by Netra Bikram Chand,” the report reads.