Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that he will not hold any discussion “regarding the proposed Extradition Treaty or any other bilateral pacts” during his forthcoming visit to India.

Terming his visit as “goodwill visit”, Oli said he will rather focus on getting moral support from India towards the ongoing “peace process and socio-economic transformation of Nepal.” Earlier in the first week of October, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula was planning to go to New Delhi to sign the bilateral Extradition Treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance agreement. However, his visit was cancelled after the Maoists raised objection about the treaty.

Talking to nepalnews on Friday, Oli said that issues like that of arms management will not be discussed with India. “These issues are for us to settle. I will just try and get India’s support on whatever decisions we make by ourselves,” he added.

The issue of arms management is said to be hindering the conclusion of peace talks between the government and the Maoists. On Thursday, Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee had told journalists that his government feels the issue of arms management is fundamental. He called for “complete and credible” management of arms in a way as to ensure that people of Nepal do not have to live under the shadow of gun anymore.

On the issue of Bhutanese refugees, Oli said Nepal government continues to hold its previous position. He said this when asked if he would request Indian government’s involvement in the talks to break the impasse as was suggested by refugee leaders recently.

Oli further said his visit will also be focused at requesting for India’s support in areas of trade. “For instance, we have big trade imbalance with India. I will talk with Indian leaders for favorable practice to help Nepal in this area,” he said.

Oli will leave for New Delhi on November 5 and will return home on November 11. He will meet with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, among other officials and politicians.

Oli is also scheduled to visit Kolkata in West Bengal and Trivendrum in Kerala state. He will hold discussions with West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in Kolkata.