Kathmandu, June 14
The United States government has floated a proposal for a State Partnership Program to be signed between the US Department of Defense and the Nepali Ministry of Defence that also includes letting some members of the US security forces stay in Nepal for an indefinite period.
After the draft of the proposed agreement came to notice, the stipulated visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Washington, DC, has been drawn into controversy. Even some members of the ruling alliance have sought clarifications from the prime minister about the agreements the two countries will sign.
Apparently, the US officials, in their recent engagements here, are putting pressure on Nepali counterparts to sign the agreement as soon as possible. As the US Army Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn recently asked Deuba to finalise the deal during his recent visit to Kathmandu, sources say it could be signed during Deuba’s US visit expected to be held in mid-July.
Onlinekhabar has obtained a copy of the draft agreement for the State Partnership Program, according to which members of the US National Guard of Utah will be present in Nepal for training-related purposes and the Nepal Army will host them. Whereas the draft mentions the agreement to be valid for five years initially, it also states it will continue to exist unless terminated by any of the parties.
Here is a copy of the draft.
