The Indian government has said that it is concerned over the increase in Maoist activities in Nepal and is in touch with the Nepal government to prevent any spill over of their activities into India.
“The government is gravely concerned about the developments in Nepal and it is a fact that activities of Maoists have increased in a dramatic manner,” External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh told the Rajya Sabha – the Upper House of the Indian parliament, during Question Hour Thursday.
Official Press Trust of India news agency quoted Singh as saying that India was in touch with the Nepal government including His Majesty King Gyanendra in this regard. “The government is fully aware of implications of the increasing Maoist activities in Nepal and their spill over into India,” Minister Singh said.
Minister of state for External Affairs E Ahamed has , however, said no agreement or Memorandum of Understanding, extending Indian support to fight the Maoist insurgency in Nepal was signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to India.”The government is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including security related cooperation with the Nepal government,” he said.
In reply to a question, the Minister said a revised extradition treaty with Nepal was being prepared.
Another Indian news agency, UNI, quoted state minister E Ahamed, as saying that India and Nepal are in the process of finalising an updated Extradition Treaty and an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters.
In a written reply to a question at the Rajya Sabha Thursday, Ahmed said efforts were also being made to further strengthen the institutionalised legal arrangements between the two countries for effectively combating crime and terrorism.
Reiterating India’s concern over the ongoing Maoist violence in Nepal, he said efforts were being made to further strengthen the institutional legal arrangements between the two countries for effectively combating crime and terrorism, the news report said. He did not furnish details, according to reports.