This week brought positive news for Nepal and its neighbours on a number of fronts.
The big news is that the Nepalese Maoists who have been fighting a bloody insurgency in the country for several years has struck a deal that will see it included in the decision making process. The current government is to be dissolved and a new interim government set up that will include the Maoists.
Now depending on your political bent that may or may not be good news, but it will have the very positive outcome of effectively ending the insurgency if done successfully.
One aspect of the insurgency that will almost certainly be affected if this deal is successful is their involvement with the illicit drug trade.
For years, the Maoist rebels have been suspected of gaining funding by almost any means that they could - trading drugs included. Rebels aided farmers in growing cannabis as well as aiding in the transport of the drug throughout the country and accross neighbouring borders.
With the inclusion of the Maoists in the legitimate government of Nepal, these activities will almost certainly be reined in by leaders of the group. One effect of legitimising groups is often that they will abandon any acts that could serve to delegitimise their new found sense of belonging.
Let’s hope this will see the beginning of the end for the criminal aspects of this trade in Nepal.