The Road to Afghanistan -newuser In New Delhi, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said a couple of important things. One thing that might interest US based Nepalese is that she expressed her unwillingness to contest in the 2008 presedential elections. Democrat Senator Hillary Clinton is already dubbed as a potential winner(her candidature is not a certainty however) although there is quiet a long way to go before the real picture emerges . But it would have been such an exciting campaign if the two parties from the only superpower of the planet fielded women as their presidential candidate. More important then this repetition by the secretary of state, she said Nepali government needed to get back on a democratic path. "That simply must happen... it needs to happen very, very soon," she said. And lets focus on this version from her statement in the Indian capital. Every one who is following the US politics (not necessarily keenly) knows that Rice is one of Bush's very very very trusted aides. When Rice says 'this must happen' it means president Bush is determined to make it happen. When Bush says something must happen, it happens in most parts of the world. Obviosuly except in China, North Korea and Iran(although Tehran is increasingly fearful about a possible US military intervention these days). So King Gyanendra must take note of Rice's latest statement which reflects America's clear intentions to restore democracy and civil rights in the himalayan kingdom. At the same time, Nepali government has expressed 'it's belief that the anti-secession legislation enacted by the Chinese National People?s Congress will contribute to achieving the goal of reunification with Taiwan' and extended 'its unequivocal support for the legislation that China has enacted.' This statement by Gyanendra's administration at a time when the country is isolated from the democratic communion of the world can be adjudged as the last throw in the dice for the continuation of 'mandaly coalition' in Nepal. But the Kings diplomatic advisors seem to have underestimated the extent of possible repercussions this kind of statements can generate in the international community. This may turn out to be the biggest mistake made by the present government in the diplomatic font in its desperate attempt to survive for longer time. In Delhi, Miss Rice didn't make a lot of fuss about Nepal. She had other bigger matters to deal with. Bilateral economic and military ties with India, call for improving Indo-Pak ties, US opposition in the connection of Iranian gas pipeline to India, Indian oppositon on US attempts to sell F-16s to Pakistan were high in the agenda. But Nepal's issue was not trivial either. The two big bullies(in context of Nepal) along with Brtain have already been united to find out their solution to Nepal's newest crisis and this visit has only asserted India's role in determining the fate of the assistance of the trio countries to Nepal. It seems, Dr Rice may not have been briefed in Delhi about Nepal's latest support to Chinese intentions of unifiying Taiwan to the main land. But when her department is notified about this development, US will clearly be annoyed. US is very worried of China these days. The Taiwan legislation is a big blow to America's stance on this affair. China's surging economy and a big leap on it's latest military budget have already aggrevated to US diplomatic concerns. Now, when Nepal without thinking about the US, offers it's explicit support to China on a matter which America judges in a completely different way, it is certain that Kathmandu will have to face a bitter response from the Bush administration. This step has jeopardised any chance whatsoever of reviving US military and logistic support to Nepal. Kathmandu leaning towards Beijing will not be taken positively in Delhi as well. Hence, Gyanendra's regime has pushed the country in a trublesome state and opened the doors for extreme foreign intervention in the days to come. Recently, Rameshnath Pandey's trip to India was unable to extract Indian support for the continuation of status quo in Nepal. Although he termed the visit as fruitful, India showed it's back to Gyanendra's effort. With US and UK urging for allowing parties to excercise politics, lifting ban on civil rights including the resotoration of press freedom, India couldn't have agreed to dance in the tune of King Gyanendra even if it could have bargaind with the new regime on some bilateral issues. India is pushing hard for it's greater role in the international arena now making it's voice of becoming a permanent memeber of the UN Security council louder and clearer. So it's relationship with the US is vital for fulfilling that ambition. Besides, India's dealing with it's nothern neighbour cannot be taken for granted when it officially starts the security council membership campaign. The reality is India simply cannot afford to support King Gyanendra's undemocratic moves when the majority of the countries in the world are longing for democratic reforms. It knows that Nepal's political parties supporting constitutional monarchy shouldn't be ignored if the country is to get back to democracy. Even though Maoists are a threat to Indian interest, it knows that Gyanendra can be forced to retreat from his ambitions of ruling autocratically. India's aspirations are to become one of the world leaders and hence it can't deviate itself from democratic values. And US and UK are also pressurising India for reestabilishing the same thing in Nepal. Hence, Pandey had to return being disappointed in Delhi. At the same time, the European Union and the United Nations also gave clear message against King's tyrannical ambitions. Pandey have faced a stark criticism from the human rights organizations in Geneva too. Surprisingly, Pakistan came up with an idea to offer weaponry to Nepal. This must have infuriated India very much. Now when Nepal needlessly offered it's gesture to China against the interest of the US on Taiwanese matter, the Americans must be annoyed for simple reasons. Thus, the new Nepalese government has drawn contradictory foreign interests on the country. China, India, USA, UK, Pakistan, EU, UN and even North Korea and Cuba have stepped on to meddle in Nepal's internal affairs now. Unnecessarily, our country is becoming the play ground for foreign players. This means that all the above countries as well as some new one will try to envisage their role in Nepal for the long run. If contradictory foreign interests are allowed to play their strategic games in Nepal, the transformation of Nepal into Afghanistan is all set to happen. Gyanendra is driving Nepal on to the road to Afghanistan today. He must make a turn. If he doesn't want to drag the nation in a pitfall he should immidiately consult constitutional parties and lift the ban on human rights and individual freedoms and forge a concilliatory government giving it full authority to hold unconditional dialogue with maoists rebels. This is the only way to rescue Nepal from being doomed like Taleban's Afghanistan. Guys, how did you find my analysis? Please add your own ideas and comments as well.