India said it looked forward to cooperation from Nepal in addressing its security concerns as the two sides explored ways to control cross-border crimes, such as smuggling of fake Indian currency and human trafficking, and agreed to combat terrorism jointly.
“I brought to notice of Nepalese leadership that the territory of Nepal is being used for anti-India activities, fake note smuggling and drug trafficking and we want government of Nepal to prevent such unhealthy activities,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Sunday, wrapping up his three-day visit here.
Mr. Krishna, who met President Ram Baran Yadav, Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal and Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala among others, said “they have assured me that Nepalese territory will not be allowed to be used for anti-India activities and that they will be vigilant.”
“We look forward to their cooperation,” he said.
A joint statement issued at the end of his visit here said Mr. Krishna and Ms. Koirala discussed security concerns of their respective countries and agreed that terrorism and extremism were a threat to both sides. “They agreed to cooperate closely to end this menace.”
They discussed ways to enhance bilateral security cooperation to control cross-border crimes such as smuggling of fake Indian currency, human trafficking and arms smuggling.
Mr. Krishna assured Nepal that India was willing to provide all possible assistance to it, including to its security organisations, as per its request.
During the bilateral meeting, Ms. Koirala assured Mr. Krishna that her government will not allow the Nepalese territory to be used for any activity directed against India and both sides agreed to take necessary steps to preserve law and order situation and peace and tranquility along the Indo-Nepal border, the statement said.
“Nepalese side has assured that its territory will not be used for activities hostile to India by controlling fake Indian currency racket and drug smuggling and we will see how Nepalese side will keep its assurances,” Krishna told reporters before his departure for New Delhi.
Asked about the delay in signing of the extradition treaty between the two countries, Mr. Krishna said that India would certainly like to move fast on it but is willing to wait till the Nepalese side is ready.
India has been keen on this treaty, but lack of consensus among political parties in Nepal is delaying its signing.
“There is some time delay... India has enormous patience,” Mr. Krishna said.
He also said that India was willing to “re-visit” the 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty but the initiative should come from Nepal as more clarity was required. “We are open to it,” he said.
Justifying the need for revising the 1950 treaty, he said 60 years have past since it was signed. The world has changed since then and the Cold War has ended, he added.
“We are entirely willing to re-visit this treaty but the initiative has to come from Nepal. There has to be enough clarity (from Nepal),” Mr. Krishna said. “There has to be enough thought of what they want.”
This issue was flagged by all Nepalese leaders who met Mr. Krishna during his visit here. The Maoists, in particular, were pressing for scrapping the treaty, saying it was unequal.
Mr. Krishna — who also met Deputy Premier Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Nepali Congress leader G.P. Koirala, Maoist chief Prachanda and ex-premiers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Surya Bahadur Thapa — said the Nepalese government expressed its commitment to take necessary measures for promotion of an investor-friendly business environment to encourage Indian public and private sector investments here.
Summing up his visit, Mr. Krishna said, “there was a lot of goodwill among the political leadership of Nepal and the majority wants good relations with India, which is justified considering the historical, civilisation and geographical links between the two countries.”
Rejecting allegations by Mr. Prachanda about India’s interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, he said he conveyed to the former prime minister “unhappiness over his virulent anti-India statements in recent days.”
Mr. Krishna told Mr. Prachanda that India was not interfering in the internal affairs of Nepal. “We want bilateral relations at even keel.”
The joint statement said that India expressed its commitment to assist Nepal in strengthening its peace, stability and democratic institutions and for its economic development.
