KATHMANDU, DEC 18 - Christina Rocca, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs has raised the issue of deployment of the Royal Nepalese Army personnel in Iraq, US Embassy officials revealed here today.
At a time when the US soldiers have come under increasing attacks from the Iraqi insurgents, the United States has asked friendly countries, including Nepal, to send troops to Iraq now under occupation of Us-led forces.
"The US government has asked many friendly countries some months back to send their troops to Iraq and this is nothing new," Constance C Jones, the Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy told The Kathmandu Post when contacted. When asked whether Nepal too was approached for the troops, she replied "yes". Replying to yet another question whether Rocca raised this issue with the government and the RNA during her talks, Jones said, "This could have been raised though it was not on the formal agenda." The government’s response was not immediately known.
Rocca today was granted audience by King Gyanendra whom she was scheduled to meet yesterday but the itinerary was changed at the eleventh hour.
She also met the top brass of the RNA and brought up the issue of human rights abuses by the RNA soldiers, sources said. They also discussed regular military assistance by the US to RNA. Jones said she was not aware of any additional assistance by the US nor could say whether the RNA asked for more.
Rocca arrived yesterday on an exclusive Nepal visit on a fact-finding mission.Posted on: 2003-12-19 04:07

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