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After suffering the wrath of a massive earthquake that left their lives imperilled, the Nepalese people saw insult added to injury when food packets, which came in as part of Pakistani aid, included packs of ready-to-eat 'beef masala'.
Since the majority-Hindu country treats cows as sacred and there is a strict ban on its slaughter which is punishable with 12 years in prison, the development has the potential to trigger diplomatic acrimony between the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation member countries.
While some are calling it insensitivity on the part of Pakistan, others see mischief behind the act.
Indian doctors at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital allegedly discovered that packets of ‘beef masala’ were sent by Pakistan on Tuesday as part of relief aid to the survivors.
These doctors are members of a 34-member medical team sent to Nepal for treating the survivors.
This move may lead to a diplomatic row between Nepal and Pakistan.
“The matter has been conveyed to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and the intelligence chief. We are also starting an internal inquiry to verify the facts. If the report is correct, we will raise the matter at the diplomatic level with Pakistan. India, being our key partner, will also be informed of the developments,” the newspaper quoted a Nepalese official as saying.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has hit out at Pakistan over the issue and called it highly insensitive while Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has raised doubts about Pakistan's intention behind sending beef as aid to a Hindu country like Nepal.
The toll in the devastating 7.9 Richter scale earthquake in Nepal crossed 6,000 mark on Thursday, with over 10,000 injured.