One can witness contrasting scenes at the Chinese and Nepali sides of the Korala transit point along Nepal-China border.
China has safeguarded its territory by wire fences. There is no human settlement on either side of the border but there is a huge presence of Chinese security personnel on the Chinese side. A base camp of Chinese security force is located only three kilometers from the border point. Security personnel are seen moving between the border checkpoint and base camp on a dirt road. They are seen carrying sophisticated arms and equipment and surveillance through CCTV cameras.
To the contrary, there is no presence of Nepali security forces at the checkpoint. Nepalese Army and Armed Police Force personnel have been stationed at Jomsom, some 100 kilometers from the Korala entry point.
Only three border points with China have been connected with motorable roads to Nepal. Korala is one of them. Although cross-border activities have increased at the border point of late, there is no presence of Nepali security forces.
Of late, the northern neighbor has intensified the work of blacktopping the road up to the Nepal-China border. One can see earth movers working in a full swing.
Increased activities from the Chinese side at the border point, upgradation of the security post, surveillance through CCTV cameras, and construction of physical infrastructures signal that the global economic giant is preparing to resume the transit point.
Mustang folks have been calling for resuming operation of the Korala transit point which has remained closed for the last 12 years after the Chinese side refused to operate the checkpoint, citing security reasons.
Both political leaders and government officials maintain that Nepal is attempting to resume the operation of the border point. But, it has fallen flat with no presence of the state at the Korala border point.
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