Nepal has initiated the process of setting up a border security force (BSF) checkpost in Mustang, a northern district bordering occupied Tibet, to be manned by its Armed Police Force (APF) personnel whose team was already near the snow covered site for the purpose. The move has been described a part of the first phase in addressing Chinese concerns about alleged increase in so-called anti-China activities in the border areas.

Mustang post was being set up at Lomanthang, which borders Tibet, and would have 46 personnel under the command of DSP Narayan Shrestha. It said another checkpost will be set up in neighbouring Manang district soon.

The move comes very shortly after the visit to China by Nepal’s Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal to specifically discuss the issue of Tibetan protests and border crossings.

A report cited Nepal’s Home Ministry as saying work was on to mobilize resources to set up BSF checkposts in Solukhumbu, Sindhuli, Taplejung, Dolakha and Sankhuwasabha districts as well.

Nepal had already set up 17 checkposts from Jhapa to Kanchanpur along the border with India. Nepal has been claiming that many, if not most, of the Tibetans staging protests in the country against China had been coming from India, leading to Beijing demanding the tightening of the border security there as well.

Source : Tibetan Review, Feb17, 2010