India, Nepal commit not to allow their territory to be used against each other

New Delhi: India and Nepal on Friday committed that they will not allow their territory to be used against each other and also agreed to set up an oversight mechanism to review the progress of economic and development projects on regular basis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal earlier held talks on several areas of partnership between the two countries.

In a joint statement issued by the two sides later, they gave various details related to strengthening of ties.

"They stressed the need to ensure that the open border, which has facilitated economic interaction and movement of people and goods on both sides of the border and has been a unique feature of India-Nepal bilateral ties, is not allowed to be misused by unscrupulous elements posing security threats to either side," it said.

The Nepali side also reiterated its support for India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

"Both sides also agreed to set up an oversight mechanism comprising senior officials from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Government of Nepal, which will review progress together with respective project implementing agencies/developers of ongoing economic and development projects on a regular basis, and take necessary steps to expedite their implementation," it said.

The Prime Minister of Nepal shared with his Indian counterpart the efforts made by the present government to take all sections of Nepali society on board for effective implementation of the constitution.

"The Prime Minister of Nepal thanked the government and people of India for their goodwill, support and solidarity in Nepal's peace process," it said, adding, "Both sides agreed to hold the next session of the India-Nepal Joint Commission in 2016."

The two Prime Ministers stressed on the need for early development of infrastructure at integrated check posts (ICPs) to facilitate smooth and faster movement of people and goods.

"They noted with satisfaction the progress in construction of ICPs at Raxaul and Jogbani, and agreed that work on the Raxaul-Birgunj ICP project will be expedited with the objective of completing it by December," the joint statement said.

The two Prime Ministers reviewed the progress made in implementation of the two ongoing India-Nepal cross-border rail-link projects and agreed that both sides will take further measures necessary for expeditious completion of both the projects.

Both sides agreed that steps will be initiated to facilitate development of three other agreed cross-border rail-link projects so that the land acquisition can commence on the Nepali side.