Prachanda warns Nepal at risk of becoming epicenter of new Cold War

Kathmandu, October 9 — Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has warned that Nepal faces the risk of becoming the "epicenter" of a new Cold War. He believes that the competition between the United States and China increasingly poses a threat of Nepal becoming central to these tensions.

During a discussion with editors from various media outlets on Wednesday, the former Prime Minister highlighted the significant political instability in South Asia, where governments have been forming and collapsing. He cited the examples of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to illustrate his point.

Prachanda emphasized that internal factors are primarily responsible for government changes in Nepal. He stated, "It is rooted in our own uniqueness. It would be an exaggeration to say that international factors are solely responsible for the formation and dissolution of our political equations. This has happened due to our internal political dynamics. However, we can anticipate increasing international pressure and maneuvering day by day."

He noted that the global situation is evolving in new ways, with some claiming that a third world war has already begun, and significant political figures suggesting that we are on the brink of such a conflict.

He remarked that the effects of this situation are being felt everywhere. "Given our geographical position between massive neighbors like China and India, we have long faced both challenges and opportunities. We have sensed that these challenges are increasing. China and the United States are currently at the forefront of competition to become global economic and political powers. It is also natural for Russia to strive to maintain its superpower status."

Prachanda pointed out that not only geopolitical factors but also Nepal's geographic makeup means that the country often finds itself in a difficult position.