The Maoist insurgency continues to simmer, and a recent commitment from the U.S. government to provide $200 million toward upgrading the army’s weapons and training would seem a good thing to help the country combat the problem, but it could have unintended consequences for U.S. travelers. One result of the Maoists being compared to al Qaeda terrorists was an ultimatum given to an American field researcher to pack up and leave within 24 hours or suffer the consequences. To date no foreigners have been targeted by the insurgents, but this threat could signal a change in tactics.
