Nepal and India denied congressional testimony by a US military commander that special forces troops were stationed in South Asian countries, including Nepal. Nepal's Defence Ministry and the army said they were not aware of any such arrangements, according to the daily Kathmandu Post.
The Himalayan Times quoted Army spokesman Ramindra Chettri as saying the US and the Nepal military were involved in joint training exercises and other exchange programs, but denied the presence of so-called "Pacific assist teams." India's defence and foreign ministries also denied the reports.
"The US government has neither sought nor has the government of India approved stationing of US special forces personnel in any capacity in India," a government spokesman said. "The two countries occasionally conduct short duration Special Forces exercises in India and the US in the context of their counter-terrorism co-operation and capacity building."
Admiral Robert Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command, told a congressional hearing in Washington this week that special forces teams were in five South Asian countries for counter-terrorism operations. "We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams in the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India," Willard said. The US embassy in Nepal also dismissed the statement, saying there are "no US Special Operations units stationed in Nepal."
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