Kathmandu: Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood
met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday and assured him of
India`s full support in the democratisation of the country,
amid a political crisis that is threatening the fragile peace
process.
Sood called on the caretaker Prime Minister and
discussed with him the latest political situation, as also the
issue of extension to United Nation`s Mission in Nepal.
During the meeting, the two discussed matters of
bilateral interest and the current political situation, Prime
Minister`s press adviser Bishnu Rijal said.
Sood also assured India`s continued support and
assistance to Nepal`s peace and democratisation process.
They also discussed the issue of the extension of the
term of the UNMIN, that has been an issue of disagreement
between the ruling coalition and the opposition Maoists.
While the parties in the ruling coalition is in favour
of an extension with a limited mandate and wants the Nepalese
Army to be out of the UNMIN`s purview, the Maoists want an
extension without a change in mandate.
The government is likely to take a decision on the
future of UN`s mission next week. Its term ends on September
15.
Prime Minister Nepal has also held talks with
ambassadors of the USA, Japan and the UK in the last few days
in a bid to push for the extension of the tenure of UNMIN.
Nepal told Sood that he wants to move forward with the
peace process and the process of drafting the new constitution
and the election of a new prime minister at the earliest.
The Prime Minister also informed the Indian Ambassador
that he has initiated a dialogue with leaders of various
political parties in order to resolve the current deadlock.
Sood said India has always extended support to any
decision made by the Nepalese government on the basis of
consensus.
A concerned India had last month sent Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh`s special envoy Shyam Saran to hold parleys
with top leaders of Nepal in an effort to defuse the political
tension gripping the country.
During his meeting with Nepal`s top leaders, including
Prachanda, Nepali Congress acting president Shushil Koirala
and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Saran made it clear
that India had no favourites and it was for political parties
in the country to choose a new leader and end the crisis.
PTI
