US removes Nepal Maoists from list of terror outfits

The US on Thursday removed Nepal’s ruling Maoist party from its list of terrorist organisations — six years after it gave up arms and joined the political mainstream.

Updated on: Sep 7, 2012, 24:03:48 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The US on Thursday removed Nepal’s ruling Maoist party from its list of terrorist organisations — six years after it gave up arms and joined the political mainstream.

The department of state removed the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and its “aliases” as a specially designated global terrorist entity and as a “terrorist organisation” from the Terrorist Exclusion List.

“After a thorough review, the department has determined that the CPN(M) is no longer engaged in terrorist activity that threatens the security of US nationals or US foreign policy,” said a media note.

The CPN(M) now known as Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had split in June. Both factions are now likely to benefit from the action taken by the US government.

Following Thursday’s action, CPN (M)’s property and interests in property in the US will no longer be blocked nor will US entities need to obtain licence to engage in transactions with the Maoist party.

“In recent years, the Maoist party has been elected as head of Nepal’s coalition government, has taken steps to dismantle its apparatus for the conduct of terrorist operations and has demonstrated a commitment to pursuing the peace and reconciliation process,” the note said.

It, however, added that the delisting “does not seek to overlook or forget the party’s violent past” but looks ahead towards its continued engagement in a peaceful, democratic political dialogue in Nepal.

Nepal’s Maoists had engaged in a ten-year civil war with the government from 1996 to 2006.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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