Kathmandu, December 24
Nepal wants to buy assault rifles for its army to take part in UN’s peacekeeping force. But it cannot do so as prevalent laws do not allow the government to pay for the weapons in one instalment.
The US Army’s Indo-Pacific Command has already agreed to sell 6,000 assault rifles worth Rs 1 billion to Nepal. But it insists that the government pay for the guns in one go.
However, Nepal’s national procurement law states that payment for such large procurements can only be made in three instalments. Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel told Onlinekhabar that the guns were necessary for Nepal to prepare for peacekeeping missions and the ministry was looking for legal ways to bring the guns to Nepal at the earliest.
Recently the UN made it compulsory for contributing troops to be equipped with weapons even before they are considered for deployment. If Nepal doesn’t get the guns soon, the UN might not consider Nepali Army for new peacekeeping missions.
“As we are working in a G2G model, America is asking for the payment in lump sum. But our laws don’t give us the permission to do so which is why we are looking at other ways to close this deal,” said Minister Pokharel.
The new guns will replace Nepal Army’s 20/30-year-old weapons.
