ailways:
total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 17,380 km
paved: 9,886 km
unpaved: 7,494 km (2004)

Military Nepal

Military branches:
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service);
Nepalese Police Force

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,107,091
females age 18-49: 5,744,989 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4.193 million
females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 308,031
females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$104.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Nepal

Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of
boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over
the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter
border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal
cross-border activities; approximately 103,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas
(Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal
since 1990

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 106,248 (Bhutan), 20,153 (Tibet/China)
IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces
and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast
Asia to the West

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@Netherlands

Introduction Netherlands

Background:
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain
in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring
and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the
world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the
Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a
separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I,
but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A
modern, industrial