Kathmandu (PTI): Nepal's ruling CPN-UML on Friday underlined the need to strengthen ties with India as it asked the Prime Minister to seek the support of New Delhi for its landmark peace process during his visit from August 18.

Ahead of Madhav Kumar Nepal’s "goodwill visit" to India, the Standing Committee of the CPN-UML asked the Prime Minister to boost the friendly relations and undertake mutually beneficially bilateral talks in New Delhi, according to party sources.

The top Communist panel asked Nepal to make issues relating to the progress of the peace process and drafting of the constitution and promoting bilateral interest the focal point during his talks with the Indian leaders.

The support from CPN-UML is crucial amid pressure from the coalition partners on the Prime Minster to refrain from inking any controversial treaty during his India visit next week.

The opposition Maoists openly warned Nepal against signing any treaty with India without a consensus among all political parties in the country, saying the CPN-UML-led government has no right or mandate to sign any agreement.

The former rebels have threatened to oppose any such deal and called for the renegotiation of the landmark 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship that provides the platform for the special ties between the two neighbours.

The Prime Minister last week assured Parliament that he would not sign any controversial pact with India without taking the lawmakers into confidence.