US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU979

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000979 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DS/OP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, AND SA/INS 
LONDON FOR RIEDL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2007 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, PREL, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: UK BOMB EXPERT PREDICTS GROWING MAOIST CAPABILITY; 
UK MISSION ASKS US FOR REPORT 
 
 
Classified By: MICHAEL MALINOWSKI, AMBASSADOR, EMBASSY KATHMANDU. 
REASON 1.5 (D). 
 
1.  (C) On 20 May, Ambassador received a letter from UK 
Charge Andrew Mitchell the text of which follows: 
 
Begin Text 
 
You may be aware that an expert in explosives from the 
British Army has recent(sic) visited Nepal for consultations 
with the Royal Nepal Army on the level of bomb technology 
being used by the Maoists.  He visited for five days and was 
able to see a number of devices recently deployed by the 
Maoists.  His report is yet to be published, but you may 
welcome an indication of the main points. 
 
Our expert was surprised by the technical nature of the 
devices and the rapid advance and adaptation of both 
technology and attack tecniques.  He was surprised in 
particular by the use of electronics to improve command wire 
devices and ingenious switches to insure the detonation of 
hand thrown grenades.  He anticipates that large vehicle 
bombs, heavy mortars, and radio controlled devices will be 
the next escalation in Maoist capabilities, and that such a 
development is only months away. 
 
This level of ability has surprised us.  We believe it is 
unmatched by the Royal Nepal Army bomb disposal capability. 
We are looking into ways of assisting the Royal Nepal Army in 
the development of their bomb disposal expertise.  But we 
will need first to establish more precisely their existing 
capability before we are able any firm decisions.  One thing 
which could help us come to an informed position sooner would 
be early sight of your Assessment Team's recent report. 
Peter Jones at our Embassy in Washington has already been in 
touch with State Department and we look forward to seeing a 
copy in the near future. 
 
End Text 
 
 
 
2.   (C) Comment and Action Request:  Post notes that the 
British Chief of Defence Staff will be visiting Nepal Friday. 
 We ask that a copy of the PACOM Assessment Team's report be 
made available to the British, either in Washington or 
London, as soon as possible. 
MALINOWSKI