India welcomes Nepal peace agreement

New Delhi: India on Wednesday welcomed 7-point agreement among political parties in Nepal to take the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants to its logical conclusion and extended its support to these efforts.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said this agreement provides a firm basis for successfully concluding the remaining aspects of Nepal’s peace process.

"We congratulate the people and the political parties in Nepal for their commitment to peacefully resolving outstanding issues in a spirit of consensus and for displaying enlightened leadership," the ministry said.

India fully supports these efforts to pave the way for Nepal’s transition to a pluralistic and inclusive multi-party democracy, the statement said.

Putting their differences aside, Nepal's main political parties have inked a historic deal last night that includes an agreement on integrating former Maoist combatants into the security forces to take a major step towards concluding the stalled peace process.

The four major political forces, which represent more than 85 per cent strength of the 601-member Constituent Assembly, reached a seven-point agreement last night to conclude the stalled peace process within a month and to prepare a draft constitution.

Those who signed the deal at the end of a crucial meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar last night include UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and leader of Joint Democratic Madhesi Front and Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar.

PTI