BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN NEPAL: QUEST FOR CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES

This article examines the protracted Bhutanese refugee crisis in Nepal and explores the critical need for confidence-building measures (CBMs) between the two countries to find a durable solution. It analyzes the stalemate in the bilateral negotiations over the verification and repatriation of the nearly 100,000 Lhotshampa refugees. The study identifies the deep-seated mistrust and conflicting political positions that have hindered progress. The research argues that a purely technical approach to verification is insufficient and must be complemented by political CBMs designed to build trust and demonstrate good faith. The paper suggests several potential CBMs, including a joint high-level political statement, transparent information sharing, and the involvement of a neutral third party like the UNHCR. The analysis concludes that breaking the diplomatic impasse requires a shift in focus from a zero-sum confrontation to a cooperative, problem-solving approach facilitated by confidence-building.

The Bhutanese refugee crisis, which began in the early 1990s, had become one of South Asia's most intractable humanitarian and political problems by the end of the decade. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the diplomatic stalemate between Bhutan and Nepal and makes a strong case for the adoption of confidence-building measures (CBMs). The study begins by summarizing the origins of the crisis and the history of the bilateral talks, highlighting their repeated failure to produce a tangible outcome on repatriation. The core of the article is an exploration of the underlying reasons for this failure, which the paper argues is rooted in a profound deficit of political trust. It analyzes Bhutan's security concerns and its reluctance to accept a large-scale return, and Nepal's position as a host country bearing a significant humanitarian burden. The paper then shifts to a prescriptive focus, outlining a series of potential CBMs. These range from simple technical measures, like agreeing on a common format for verification, to more significant political gestures, such as Bhutan allowing an independent assessment of conditions in the south of the country. The findings suggest that a step-by-step process of confidence building is the most realistic pathway to unlock the stalled negotiations. The paper concludes that without a concerted effort to build a minimum level of mutual trust, the quest for a just and durable solution for the Bhutanese refugees would remain elusive.