Army launches advanced national security course

The Nepali Army has launched an advanced course on national security at its Shivapuri-based Command and Staff College. The training that began on Wednesday (March 13) includes 30 participants from various ministries, constitutional bodies, universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, media outlets as well as representatives from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department. This ninth iteration of the training, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Nepali Army, is scheduled to continue until March 29.

During the inauguration of the training event, Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhu Ram Sharma expressed confidence that the training would aid in formulating and implementing crucial policies to safeguard national interests. He emphasized the importance of studying and analyzing both external and internal security environments.

Furthermore, CoAS Sharma highlighted the escalating conflicts and wars on the international stage, which are exacerbating polarization among powerful nations, raising concerns over an impending new cold war. He underscored the additional challenge facing small nations in maintaining their existence. “In the context of Nepal,” he noted, “Sensitive geopolitics, open borders and competing interests of various powerful nations pose significant national security challenges.” CoAS Sharma also addressed the growing internal religious and communal disputes, along with the activities of dormant separatist groups, which he identified as other threats to national security.

“Labor migration, youth migration and the involvement of Nepalis in the armies of various conflicting nations, coupled with the escalating impacts of climate change such as excessive rainfall, droughts, and depletion of water resources, as well as the repercussions on the Tarai region due to deforestation and its adverse effects on our food security highlight crucial issues from the perspective of human security,” stated CoAS Sharma. He emphasized that the development of technology, particularly in the realms of information technology and artificial intelligence (AI), poses new challenges to the security sector, necessitating a redefinition of military strategy and theory. 

He requested the participants to identify and analyze the traditional and non-traditional security challenges along with the importance of such factors in national security in a subtle and in-depth manner.

Addressing the attendees, Defense Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma underscored the critical importance and necessity of high-level national security training. He emphasized its utility in fostering a shared perception and comprehension of national security among high-ranking officials, acquainting them with key issues and dimensions of the external security environment that could impact the nation. Sharma said, “It is only through an integrated and coordinated approach to confronting various internal and external challenges that threaten our nation’s security that we can effectively enhance our overall defense capacity, border management, disaster control, national unity, and regional and international relations and diplomacy.”

Since its inception in 2016, the course has provided training to 193 individuals.