Kathmandu, March 16: Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel has emphasized that national security must be strengthened through an original and realistic assessment of the country’s situation.
Inaugurating the High-Level National Security Training for the 10th group at the Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri, today, CoAS Sigdel stated that the primary goal of national security is to safeguard national interests through the coordinated use of state power. He highlighted the importance of staying updated on evolving security concepts to effectively address emerging challenges.
“The concept of national security is continuously evolving, and a multi-dimensional security environment is being developed. For this, all stakeholders must have a common understanding of its foundation, scope, practices, and content,” he said.
He noted that national security extends beyond military defense, encompassing human security and environmental concerns, as well as political, economic, and social aspects. He stressed that free, fair debates, research, and analysis during high-level training programs could contribute to formulating appropriate security and defense policies for Nepal.
CoAS Sigdel emphasized that Nepal’s security dynamics are unique and must be evaluated based on the country’s geography, economy, population, and resources. “Our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges must be analyzed from our own perspective. Only then can we make national security truly effective,” he asserted.
He also expressed confidence that the training would help foster mutual cooperation, coordination, and the development of a shared understanding among participants, ultimately facilitating security-related policy formulation, decision-making, and implementation.
Speaking at the event, Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Rameshwor Dangal stated that protecting and promoting national security, national interests, and national welfare is the foremost responsibility of any country.
He further remarked that security is deeply linked to a nation’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, with good governance and development being essential prerequisites. Stressing the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of security, he underscored the need for continuous dialogue, coordination, and collaboration among state agencies to strengthen national security.
Meanwhile, Acting Commandant of the college, Manoj Thapa, shared that the training would facilitate the exchange of experiences related to internal and external security challenges. He emphasized the need for better coordination and collaboration among state institutions to enhance national security.
The High-Level National Security Training has been jointly organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Nepali Army since 2072 BS (2015 AD). So far, 222 individuals have completed the program. The current two-week training session includes more than ten first-class government officials, security personnel, representatives from Nepal Rastra Bank, Tribhuvan University, and media professionals. #NepalArmy #nepal #security
