India Ends Eight- Year Ban, Starts Supplying Arms To Nepal

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India has handed oversome of the equipment,including vehicles andarms, it had pledged toprovide to Nepal ahead ofcrucial polls to be heldnext month.

KATHMANDU – Ending aneight-year-old ban on militarysupplies, India has handed oversome of the equipment, includingvehicles and arms, it hadpledged to provide to Nepalahead of crucial polls to be heldnext month.Over 360 vehicles, including 25mine-protected vehicles, havealready arrived while arms andammunition, which are in thepipeline, will come soon,sources in the Nepalese armyheadquarters said onWednesday.This is the first time that militaryequipment is being providedto Nepal by India after endinga ban on the supply of suchgear, including lethal arms, thatwas imposed when former KingGyanendra seized executivepowers in February 2005, said astatement issued by army headquarters.Nepal has said the equipment isneeded by 62,000 troops whowill provide security for theconstituent assembly electionsto be held on November 19.The country recently amendedits constitution to allow thearmy to be mobilized to ensurefree and fair polls.