India, Nepal open two-day security talks

From Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Sep 22 (PTI) India and Nepal on Thursday
opened two-day high-level security talks here on issues
relating to cross-border crimes like smuggling and circulation
of fake currency, the first such parleys after the new
Maoist-led government assumed power in this country.
During the Joint Secretary-level meeting, the two sides
would discuss border management, security cooperation and
information sharing, a senior Nepalese Home Ministry official
said.
The meeting, which comes ahead of Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai's India visit later this month, would focus on
issues relating to cross-frontier crimes such as circulation
of fake Indian currency and illegal border trade.
India has been pressing Nepal to crack down on the fake
Indian currency racket which has its origin in Pakistan.
The Indian delegation at the talks is led by K K Mittal,
Joint Secretary (Home), while the Nepalese side is headed by
his counterpart Sudhir Shah.
The meeting will pave the way for the Home Secretary-
level talks to be held in near future, the official said.
The Joint Secretary-level security talks are being held
more than three weeks after 57-year-old Bhattarai of Maoist
party assumed charge as Nepal's Prime Minister.