The government is set to receive an equal number of essential vehicles for the upcoming election as aid from both China and India.
Nepal has planned to take an equal number of vehicles after both countries expressed their readiness to provide the necessary vehicles for the election as assistance.
During a courtesy meeting with Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava on September 16, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who was appointed following the Gen Z movement, stated that the priority of the interim government was to hold the election on the scheduled time.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, met with Prime Minister Karki on September 18. During that meeting, Prime Minister Karki also mentioned that the priority of her government was the election.
In the meetings, which took place a day apart, both Indian Ambassador Srivastava and Chinese Ambassador Chen informed the government that they were ready to provide the necessary assistance for the election.
According to sources, the Election Commission and the security agencies require a large number of vehicles, and requests have been made to both neighboring countries for them.
Both countries have already informed the government that they are prepared to provide the necessary vehicles for the election as a gift.
During a meeting held at the Office of the President on October 18, both the neighbors expressed their commitment to provide the necessary vehicles required for the election.
According to sources, President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, members of the Council of Ministers, and the chiefs of all four security agencies were present in the meeting.
"The ambassadors of both countries were informed that at least four hundred vehicles would be needed for the election," said the source, "The ambassadors of both countries promised that they would provide as many vehicles as needed as a gift."
The meeting also discussed whether these vehicles should be taken from India or China.
"If we take them from only one neighbor, questions might arise, and the other neighbor might be displeased. Therefore, a solution was presented in the same meeting that would fulfill our need and also keep both neighbors happy," said the source on the condition of anonymity. "Accordingly, a policy has been set to bring half of the required vehicles from India and the other half from China."
Not only India and China, but countries like the US and Japan have also fully promised their support for the successful execution of the election.
However, the election date is only five months away. While Nepal is in favor of accepting assistance from other countries, given the proximity of the election and the greater distance of those countries, Nepal has prioritized the assistance offered by India and China for the vehicles.
Bringing vehicles gifted by other countries to Nepal would require using either Chinese or Indian territory. Since both countries have promised to provide as many vehicles as needed as a gift, both bordering neighbors have been given priority by Nepal.
Nepal has always adopted a policy of equidistance and balance between the two neighboring countries. That policy will now also be applied in the context of vehicle assistance required for the election.
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