King meets envoy as Delhi heat gets to Kathmandu Blockade cuts off Indian military supplies, Nepal army waits SHISHIR GUPTA Posted online: Monday, February 07, 2005 at 0000 hours IST, www.Indianexpress.com KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6: King Gyanendra?s promised action against Maoist insurgents, seeking to overthrow his rule, could take a hit because military supplies from India are unable to reach the Valley. For the sixth consecutive day, the all-important Tribhuvan highway remained blocked because of a transport strike called by Left wing extremists. That Kathmandu is feeling the heat, especially after New Delhi?s firm stand against the royal coup, is also evident: King Gyanendra today met envoys of key nations, including India and US, and explained the reasons for seizing direct control of Nepal. Sources confirmed that New Delhi, while it is committed to supply military equipment already in the pipeline, will review new military aid proposals. The first casualty will be the critical hand-held thermal imagers deal. Almost through, the deal was expected to boost manifold the capability of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA). Indian military aid to Nepal totals Rs 374 crore, apart from training the RNA in counter-insurgency. But even military aid in the pipeline has been stopped in view of the Maoist blockade of the Tribhuvan highway. Those who have taken the highway to the Valley say that Maoists have been holding public meetings by the roadside. Traffic from Birgunj and Nepalgunj has been stopped due to blockades at Dhading, 40 km short of the Valley. The Arniko highway also remains blocked beyond Dhulikhel on the Lhasa road. It?s learnt that Kathmandu was on the verge of signing the thermal imagers? these heat seeking gadgets can detect human movement from a kilometre away? that entailed supply of 125 such high-tech equipment. Although the King?s government wanted 500 such imagers, New Delhi now wants to review the new proposals. In short, the deal is on hold. At the same time, a debate rages between Kathmandu-based Indian diplomats and South Block on what should be New Delhi?s posture. The Indian Army has a slightly different line: it wants the government to continue military aid to Kathmandu lest China or Pakistan step in. Indian diplomats in Kathmandu are miffed with the behaviour of the RNA. On January 31, Indian Ambassador S S Mukherjee and the Defence attache met RNA chief Pyar Jung Thapa but the latter did not say a word on the King?s next move. Indian intelligence also botched it, filing a general report rather than giving real time information on the King?s plans on February 1. Although the King?s key advisors like Sarat Chand Shah have privately urged New Delhi not to precipitate matters, New Delhi wants the King to feel the heat. Shah asked for Delhi?s support, citing the example of Pakistan where General Musharraf also downed tele-communication networks for more than a week after assuming power.