By Levina

The Nepal Department of Passports recently resumed services after a disruption caused by a computer virus infiltration.

According to a notice published on in late November by nepali authorities, applicants can now submit online forms and apply directly at the central office. While services in district offices and Nepali missions abroad are being restored incrementally, trial operations in these locations are set to commence on Tuesday. The department clarified that passport printing for applicants who had completed biometric procedures has resumed, and dispatch to respective offices has started.

The cyberattack, which halted services for over 3,000 daily applicants globally, brings to the fore the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.

Chinese Involvement and Illicit Activities

Nepali authorities have flagged growing concerns about foreign nationals exploiting vulnerabilities in Nepal’s administrative systems. A March 2024 case revealed Chinese nationals bribing local officials to fraudulently obtain Nepali citizenship. This tactic has enabled activities such as cybercrime, human trafficking, gold smuggling, and drug trafficking. Investigations uncovered operational hubs in secure areas of Kathmandu, like Baluwatar and Thamel, facilitating illicit enterprises under the guise of legitimate businesses.

3 Cases of significance:

1. Illegal Entry: On November 27, 2024, two Chinese nationals, Liguangui (32) and Xtao (35), were apprehended in Kapilvastu for illegal entry. They were accompanied by an Indian guide, Arbaaz Sheikh (23), who has also been detained. Picture below shows the guide and the Chinese nationals.
2. Passport Fraud: In July 2024, a Chinese national was denied bail by the Calcutta High Court after attempting to enter India using a fake Nepali passport.

3. A high-profile case involving Ram Chandra Aryal, a section officer at the Kavre District Administration Office, revealed widespread corruption in granting citizenship to foreign nationals. Aryal allegedly registered two Chinese nationals involved in gold smuggling using false identities. Investigations indicate that approximately 350 individuals, including foreign nationals, fraudulently obtained Nepali citizenship. We had reported this case in march this year. You can read the article here.

Bangladeshi Involvement in Illegal Immigration

Nepal also faces a surge in illegal immigration from Bangladesh, allegedly facilitated by local organizations. Groups like the Islamic Sangh Nepal and Nepal Muslim Commission reportedly assist Bangladeshi immigrants in obtaining citizenship by verifying them as relatives of registered Nepali citizens. These actions have raised concerns about potential radicalization and demographic shifts, particularly in the Tarai and Madhes regions.

Authorities suspect external influences, such as Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, of orchestrating demographic changes in strategically sensitive areas of Nepal to destabilize regional harmony. The demographic manipulation facilitated by illegal documentation poses significant risks to Nepal’s national security.

While the perpetrator of the Passport Department cyberattack remains unidentified, its consequences highlight systemic vulnerabilities. The direct beneficiaries of such disruptions appear aligned with criminal networks exploiting these gaps for illegal activities. Adding to India’s woes is the fact that Nepalis can enter India sans much difficulty. Nepali citizens have the privilege of getting into Government jobs in India that includes the Indian Army. A chinese citizen who learns Nepali, bribes an official to get Nepali passport, and sneaks into India– this scenario, lets hope does not arise.

Nepal’s official version of why the “cyber atatck” took place:

Nepali media claims that IDEMIA, the company responsible for managing the Department of Passport’s software, deliberately introduced a technical issue and attributed it to a hacker attack as the e-passport tender notice approached.

Allegations suggest that IDEMIA, which has controlled Nepal’s passport printing and software management for over 15 years, strategically disrupted the Department’s software system to influence the tender process and secure a competitive advantage for the upcoming contract.