Nepal soil won't be allowed to be used against India: PM

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Aug 17 (PTI) On the eve of his maiden official
visit to New Delhi, Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday affirmed
that his country would not allow its soil to be used against
India and sought the giant neighbour's cooperation in the
fields of infrastructure development and power generation.

"This is basically a goodwill visit and I hope that it
would take the existing cordial and close relations between
the two countries to a new high," he told PTI in an interview
at his official residence ahead of his departure for New Delhi
Tuesday on a five-day visit.

The purpose of the visit is to further deepen mutual
trust and understanding, apart from exploring ways to expand
cooperation, Nepal, 56, said. "We will review the Indo-Nepal
relations in totality and find out where the hurdles are and
suggest ways to clear them."

The Prime Minister also asserted that Nepal will never
allow its soil to be used against India. "We are committed to
not allowing our territory against the interests of
neighbouring countries, including India."

He said Nepal was also opposed to pursuing the policy of
using one country against the other.

Nepal said that during his discussions with Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi, a host of issues, including
extradition treaty, the review of the 1950 Peace and
Friendship Treaty, Bhutanese refugee problem, Nepal's peace
process and matters relating to security and border will be
discussed.

"In the past we had initiated the process of reviewing
the (Peace and Friendship) treaty," Nepal said, adding that
this time also he would take up with his Indian counterpart
the issue of review, update and adjustments in the 1950 pact.

However, with regard to the extradition treaty and
boundary mapping, no agreement would be signed this time, he
clarified, adding it is a long process.

"We would like India to help in the process of
repatriation of Bhutanese refugees to their country in a
respectful manner," Nepal said.

He said Nepal has been suffering a lot due to the two
decade-long refugee problem involving 120,000 Bhutanese people
and expects India's goodwill and help in resolving the matter.

He said the "problems" that have prevented implementation
of the past agreements and understandings between India and
Nepal would be identified. "We will find out ways to move
ahead by clearing all obstacles."

"We will work out a time-bound implementation of all past
agreements and projects signed in the past," Nepal said,
adding "we want India to increase whatever cooperation and
development assistance we are getting from her."

The Prime Minister said Nepal aims to seek benefits from
its giant neighbours, which have made tremendous progress in
the field of economy and achieved development.

"We want India to help in our infrastructure development
such as developing fast-track roads connecting Kathmandu to
Terai, sub-highways in Terai, building of second international
airport in Nijgadh of southern Nepal and constructing two
regional airports in Bhairahawa and Lumbini." PTI SBP
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