Nepal not to tolerate anti-India activities, Jaswant assured

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, AUG. 19. The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, during his three-day goodwill visit to Nepal which ended today, conveyed to his hosts India's concerns about the use of Nepalese territory for anti-India activities and he was assured that Nepal would not tolerate such activities against friendly neighbours.

In a statement released here today by the Indian Embassy in Nepal, it was pointed out that security issues of concern to both the countries came up during the discussions Mr. Singh had with the Nepalese monarch, King Gyanendra, and the Nepal Prime Minister, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba.

While India appreciated the recent movement made by Nepal towards negotiation and reconciliation with Maoist groups politically active in the Himalayan Kingdom, it expressed concern about the use of Nepalese territory by ``elements manoeuvred by third countries'' for ``anti-India activities.''

The hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999 had underlined the growth of suspected ISI activities. The Uttar Pradesh Government has repeatedly talked about the growth of an ISI network in areas bordering Nepal.

During the extensive discussions, Mr. Singh signaled that India would seek ``necessary adjustments'' in the five-year trade treaty between the two countries signed in 1996 which would come up for review later this year. The view here is that clearer rules of origin for exports will help Nepal export goods manufactured there (and thus encourage manufacturing and value addition) rather than be used as a trade route for goods manufactured elsewhere and dumped here. India expressed confidence that solutions satisfactory to both countries would be found.

Mr. Singh assured his hosts that construction of the Russiyal- Khurdwar-Lautan bund had been stopped on July 10 after Nepal had expressed concern. He noted India would do nothing that would in any way cause damage to Nepal. While dismissing unfounded apprehensions he assured that Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, was as sacred to India as to Nepal.

This was the first high-level visit by an Indian dignitary to Nepal after the massacre of the royal Nepalese family of former King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya on June 1. The emphasis was on India's continued commitment to building on the existing friendship between the two countries and strengthening ties in all areas.

PTI reports from Kathmandu:

Mr. Singh told reporters before leaving for India that he offered deep condolences to King Gyanendra on the massacre.

``We in India have high appreciation for the Nepalese Government and the people for evincing rare courage and patience and the remarkable way in which Nepal has coped with the most sorrowful national tragedy because of the inherent resilience and strength of its polity and society,'' he said. ``I am happy to have had this opportunity to visit Nepal. My visit was very cordial and successful and I achieved more than I had expected.''

On bilateral ties, he said, ``I do not believe there are any major problems or insurmountable issues.'' ``Such matters as occasionally do crop up at the local level are really not the defining moments of the relationship between the two countries and they must be attended to, worked through and we should establish mechanisms so that they themselves do not become any type of area of contention,'' he said.

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