Cold War Secret: Nepal Backed Indian Separatists at UN, Files Show

Declassified British intelligence documents reveal a hidden diplomatic rift. In the 1960s, Nepal's government decided to support a delegation of Naga separatists at the United Nations. The Nagas are ethnic groups from northeast India. Some groups have sought independence for decades. The documents show Nepal's plan to assist the separatists' UN appeal. This placed Nepal against its much larger neighbor, India. The incident occurred during a period of regional tension. The documents do not specify if the support was ever formally given. Historians note this reveals the complex politics of the Cold War era. Smaller nations sometimes made strategic moves that surprised global powers. There has been no immediate comment from the governments of Nepal or India on the declassified records.