December 19: A US report released on Thursday states that the threat posed by international terrorist organization has decreased in Nepal, but the risk persists. The new report on terrorism recently released by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken points out that there is still a risk that Nepal could become a transit point for an international terrorist organization.

The United States has cited Nepal’s open borders with India and inadequate security measures and arrangements at the country's only international airport as the reasons for such risk. In its 2018 report, the United States cited Nepal as a fertile ground for terrorism. However, the current report only points out the risks.

In a report from 2015 to 2018, the United States stated that the Indian Mujahideen had expanded its base in Nepal and that Nepal was the hub of the organization. But the report, this time states the open border with India as a security risk.

The report was released by the US State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism. The report states that there was no anti-US terrorist activity in Nepal in 2020.

Stating that Netra Bikram Chand-led group has renounced violence and entered the peace process, the US report said that the group has continued its violent activities.

The US has addressed the group that was referred to as a pro-terrorist in the previous report, as pro-violent extremist this year.

Stating that Nepal does not have its own definition of terrorism, the US report points out the risk of terrorist activity in the Middle East affecting Nepal as well.

Dozens of members of international terrorist organizations have been arrested in Nepal in the last two decades. The Nepal Police has taken action against the persons arrested in such incidents as per the prevailing laws of Nepal.

According to a high-ranking police source, Nepal has been secretly handing over many of them to the concerned countries in lack of extradition treaty.

A few years ago, a member of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba reportedly came to Nepal. He spent a few months in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. It was revealed that the member had obtained citizenship of Nepal from Kapilvastu. The Nepal Police had traced his activities and whereabouts. According to a high-ranking police source, he was arrested and action was taken against him for tampering with the government stamp.

After paying the penalty, he was secretly handed over to the concerned country. According to the police, he had come to Nepal to expand his organization in South Asia. Police had recovered some money and other documents from him.