Prachanda Highlights Growing Importance of Declaring Nepal as a Zone of Peace

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has emphasized the increasing relevance of declaring Nepal a Zone of Peace, citing the need to protect the country’s national autonomy in the face of a volatile global political landscape.

Receiving a memorandum from the Zone of Peace Campaign, a citizen-led initiative, Prachanda expressed his support for revisiting the peace zone proposal, an idea initially introduced during Nepal’s Panchayat era. He noted that while the concept faced opposition due to the political circumstances of the time, the present situation—both nationally and globally—makes the Zone of Peace proposal more significant than ever.

“The world situation and national independence demand that we reconsider the Zone of Peace proposal,” Prachanda said. “During the Panchayat regime, political constraints prevented any party from supporting it, but in this new political context, the proposal can be a vital agenda for safeguarding the nation.”

Prachanda also confirmed that discussions are underway within the Maoist Centre about pushing forward with the peace zone initiative. “I support an open discussion on this matter,” he stated, adding that the party plans to formalize its stance on the issue during an upcoming central committee meeting. He underscored the importance of taking public opinion into account, saying, “The initiative to start this discussion at the people’s level is a positive development.”

The former prime minister suggested using Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, as a symbolic basis for promoting the peace zone campaign. “Lumbini can be the core foundation of the Zone of Peace, reinforcing Nepal’s commitment to peace and non-alignment,” he noted.

In addition to voicing his support for the campaign, Prachanda pledged that the Maoist Centre would back the initiative as it gains momentum. The Zone of Peace Campaign is chaired by senior journalist Narayan Prasad Sharma of Dang.

Earlier, on Thursday, the campaign also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, urging him to advocate for Nepal’s designation as a Zone of Peace at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The proposal seeks to protect Nepal from external interference and ensure national sovereignty amidst increasing global political tension.

The idea of declaring Nepal a Zone of Peace was first proposed by King Birendra in 1975, aiming to keep the country neutral and free from international conflicts. Although it gained international support at the time, the proposal lost traction in the subsequent political shifts. However, Prachanda’s recent remarks signal a renewed push for the concept in the country’s current political and international context.