India to discuss security issues with Nepal

May 17, 2006
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Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed has said that India will discuss security matters including the purported ‘activities’ of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistani intelligence agency, with the new Nepal government.

“India will talk to the new government in Nepal on all security-related issues, including ISI activities,” media reports quoted Ahamed as telling the Lok Sabha, the lower chamber of the Indian parliament on Wednesday. He added that the new Nepal government has “assured not to allow any anti-India activities including those of ISI in Nepali soil”.

Both Nepali and Pakistani governments refute reports that ISI has been launching its activities from Nepali soil targeting India.

Minister Ahamed also said the Indian government was aware of links between Indian Naxal outfits and Nepali Maoists but he denied any operation linkages between the guerrilla outfits, reports said.

“India has consistently called for the process of genuine dialogue between constitutional forces of Nepal to find a peaceful solution to challenges facing the country,” the Indian minister said, adding that matter of safety of Indian nationals in Nepal was “forcefully taken up by the government through diplomatic channels with Nepalese authorities.”

However, Nepali authorities are yet to say anything on the future talks on security issues.

Supporting the recent political change in Nepal after the people’s movement, India has pledged support, including financial assistance, to the new government.

Meanwhile, amidst reports of encroachment of Nepali land by India in Susta area of Nawalparasi district, Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mujherjee has claimed that Nepal and India have “different perception on the alignment of their boundary in some areas”

In his written statement to Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian parliament, Mukherjee claimed, “In the Susta region, shifting off course of the Gandak river, the mid-stream of which forms the boundary as per the Treaty of Sugauli, has resulted in claims and counterclaims by both sides.”

Reports say dozens of Nepali families have been forced to leave their places due to encroachment from Indians.

Explaining that India and Nepal have established a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to resolve border issues, Mukherjee said India has reiterated to Nepal the need for early resolution of boundary issues, reports said.