US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2596

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CHINA MILITARY ASSISTANCE ARRIVES

Identifier: 05KATHMANDU2596
Wikileaks: View 05KATHMANDU2596 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kathmandu
Created: 2005-11-28 08:52:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PREL MCAP PTER NP
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #2596 3320852
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 280852Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9272
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9011
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 1938
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 8849
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 3975
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3393
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 3701
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002596 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MCAP, PTER, NP 
SUBJECT:  CHINA MILITARY ASSISTANCE ARRIVES 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 2516 
 
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
Chinese Military Aid Arrived - But What Is It? 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
1. (C) On November 25, Kantipur News, a private media 
organization, broke the news that Nepal had received 18 
truckloads of military equipment from China.  An initial RNA 
statement posted on-line said that the trucks contained 
lethal and non-lethal assistance.  However, within hours that 
statement was withdrawn and an edited version said only that 
non-lethal military hardware had arrived.  The outgoing RNA 
spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Deepak Gurung, told the press that 
it was a regular shipment that contained only non-lethal 
assistance.  However, according to the Indian Defense 
Attache, the shipment contained 4 million rounds of 7.62mm 
ammunition, which can be used in the RNA's self-loading 
rifles (carried by about half of its soldiers).  The Director 
of Military Intelligence avoided answering our questions 
requesting more information about the shipment. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
2. (C) We will continue to seek confirmation of the 
shipment's actual content.  The RNA's silence allows the 
government to continue to play the China card.  Even if the 
shipment contained lethal assistance, including SLR 
ammunition, the RNA still has not solved its problem of 
acquiring more ammunition for its INSAS rifles and M-16s, the 
weapons about half of its soldiers carry and which use 5.56mm 
caliber ammunition.  Embassy has also learned that COAS Thapa 
will travel December 12-17 to Pakistan, where he may seek to 
take up Pakistan's offer of military assistance. 
MILLARD 

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