Nepal govt denies knowledge of arms import

Kathmandu, Sep 1: The Nepal government has clarified that it does not have any information concerning the alleged import of arms and weapons from Ukraine via India to the country.

''The government is unaware about the import of 5.1-tonne consignment of weapons from Ukraine via India to Nepal, The Himalayan Times today quoted Foreign Affairs advisor to the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Suresh Chalise , as saying.

The imported weapons included rifles, ammunition, and anti-aircraft missiles manufactured in Israel, the paper said.

''The plane was forced to land at Ahmedabad airport in India after the Nepal government told the Indian External Affairs Ministry, on August 26, that it knew nothing about such a consignment,'' said the official.

The issue came to light when New Delhi asked the Nepal government about the plane and whether to provide airspace to it.

''The government does not know whether the deal to buy the weapons was struck during the royal regime, but suspects it might have got the go-ahead right from the top officials of the previous government,'' the advisor said.

The Paper also quoted Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Nepal Bhushan Chand as saying that he was unaware of any such consignment meant for the Army.

UNI