Kathmandu: The outgoing Indian Ambassador to the Nepali court, Shyam Saran, has admitted that the Maoists insurgency of this Himalayan Kingdom does pose a challenge to his country as well.

“It’s a shared challenged for both of us. We know that the Nepali insurgency has well established linkages in India which have been creating security challenges within India and that their activities in India is a threat”, is what Ambassador said talking Monday evening with Nepal television.

A close analysis of what Ambassador saran has said does indicate that Nepali Maoists now constitute a security threat to the Indian establishment and that the Maoists will now be treated in a different manner.

He moreover, hinted that his country’s support to settle this issue was not only essential but India was awaiting Nepali call in this regard.

Nevertheless, on the question of the possible UN mediation, the Ambassador could not hide his country’s hesitation but then yet candidly said that Nepal as a sovereign country was free to decide on its own whether or not the UN mediation was needed in this regard.

“All these are means, not the end”, is what Ambassador said on the UN mediation but hastened to add that “India would be ready to support any peace process should such a request came from the Nepali side”.

Ambassador Saran who is shortly to take up the assignment of India’s Foreign Secretary beginning August, next month, said that as Indian envoy to this country, he concentrated his efforts in enhancing greater understanding in between the two countries. He however, maintained that South Block must now think seriously on how to tackle the bilateral issues with its immediate small neighbors.

“New orientation will have to be initiated”, opined Ambassador saran.

Nevertheless, he also admitted that Nepal was a complex country which required sensitive and careful handling.

To yet another query of the TV questioner, Ambassador Saran assured that even if he were the India’s foreign secretary, he would accord priority to the Nepali issues not only because he served in this country as Ambassador of India but also due to the fact that the new establishment attached great importance to its relations with Nepal.

He however, strongly rebuked the claims of some interested quarters that his meeting the people of various social discipline and the leaders of this country amounted to some sort of interference.

“As envoy of a country, more so of a neighboring nation, my duty is to interact with as many people as I could but those meetings were and should be directed for the benefit of bilateral relations”, added Ambassador saran.

All in all, what was evident from Ambassador saran’s TV interview is that India was a changed country now for she knew that Maoists amounted to a threat to their own security. What was also clear from his explanation that India would be more than happy to be of tangible support in striking a deal with the Maoists should Nepal demanded the use of her good offices. And finally, what was also made amply clear is that India would wish the constitutional monarchy, the political parties coming closer and face the Maoists challenge together.

Last but not the least, Ambassador Saran frankly admitted that he enjoyed his Kathmandu tenure very much.

Congratulations Ambassador Saran on being elevated to the ranks of India’s Foreign Secretary.