Defence issues sorted out: Indian Defence Minister

June 9, 2006
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India’s Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee
(Photo source : financialexpress.com)

India’s Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said Nepal and India have “sorted out” issues regarding defence cooperation during the talks between visiting Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh.

“All issues relating to defence cooperation have been sorted out. Very soon, our defence cooperation group, the joint consultative committee, which is an institutional arrangement, will be meeting and they will be discussing the expanding areas of cooperation,” Indian official news agency Press Trust of India quoted Mukherjee as saying after a meeting with PM Koirala Friday.

India, which is Nepal’s main military donor, suspended its military assistance after King Gyanendra assumed direct control in 2005. Reports said India has agreed to write off Rs.1.5 overdue of Nepal Army.

Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
(File photo)

Mujherjee also described Koirala’s India visit as an “excellent trip” and welcomed the reinstatement of the Nepali parliament. “We welcome the process of consolidation of democratic forces in Nepal,” he said.

He expressed the hope that talks between the Nepal government and Maoist rebels would be successful. “They are engaged in talks and we hope they would find an amicable solution,” he remarked.

PM Koirala is returning home this evening after a four-day good-will visit to India. This was his first foreign tour since his appointment as the Prime Minister following the successful April Movement.

Two members of the visit team, Finance Minister Dr Ram Saran Mahat and commerce and industries minister Gopal Man Shrestha will stay for few more days to discuss financial and investment issues, it is learnt.