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India, Nepal find common ground on non-controversial issues

Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi

India and Nepal skirted the dispute over the 1950 treaty even as the two sides promised to resolve the border issue by the end of 2002, increase trade and economic ties, and tighten security along the border.

This was decided at the summit-level meetings between Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Indian counterpart, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on Tuesday. India and Nepal also held delegation-level talks.

Koirala's visit comes at a time when Indo-Nepalese ties have come under severe strain following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu. India had suspended all flights to Kathmandu for some time, which had an adverse impact on Nepal's tourism industry.

Senior officials in the ministry of external affairs pointed out that top-level visits between the two sides had not taken place because of the political uncertainty in both countries.

Koirala is on a seven-day trip to India. He will also be visiting Bangalore and later Varanasi on his way back to Kathmandu.

The two sides skirted the difficult issues preferring to concentrate on those on which a consensus has emerged. Thus, the 1950 treaty between the two countries will be discussed at the foreign secretary level.

India conveyed its concern that the open border between the two countries was being used by mischievous elements to infiltrate into India and carry out subversive activities.

Koirala assured that his government had no intention of allowing anti-India activities on its soil and promised tough measures against any Pakistani agents in Nepal.

Both nations agreed to work closely to fight terrorism and not allow their respective territories to be used against each other. The two premiers directed the respective home secretaries to meet regularly, review and expand co-operation between the law enforcement agencies of India and Nepal.

The other contentious issue - demarcation of the border - will be discussed by the foreign ministers. It was last demarcated in the 1920s.

The two prime ministers have directed the joint technical committee, which is seeking to demarcate the border, to complete the fieldwork by 2002 and prepare the final strip map by 2003.

Issues on which the two sides have made substantial progress are:
* Improve the physical facilities and infrastructure at important border stations and check-posts, starting with Raxaul-Birganj, Sunoli-Vahraiya and Jorbani-Biraatnagar.
* Develop transport and communications infrastructure in the districts that share a common border.
* Launch joint pilot projects in rural areas for community development, co-operate in setting up small and medium-sized hydro projects in Nepal.
* Co-operate in developing the dairy industry in Nepal with assistance from India's National Dairy Development Board.
* Co-operate in establishing a technical institute in Nepal.
* Co-operate in setting up an export processing zone at Birganj, Nepal.

Vajpayee and Koirala dwelt on length on the question of water resources. Nepal has the potential to develop many hydroelectric projects, given the many rivers that flow through this Himalayan kingdom. On the other hand, India had a huge demand for power. It was agreed that all effort would be made to develop such environment-friendly projects.

The water resources secretaries of both the governments would meet at least once in six months to discuss issues pertaining to water resources.

Vajpayee told Koirala that the Pancheswar project in Nepal, undertaken by Indians, will be completed by the end of 2001. Also, the fieldwork and detailed reports of the Sat-Kosi dam and the Sun-Kosi Kamala diversion projects will be taken up on a priority basis.

Vajpayee also promised to look into the aspect of high fees Nepalese students are charged in India.

An important development was the agreement that Nepal will accept self-certification from Indian automakers and import cars from India. Currently, Indian cars were unable to penetrate the Nepal market due to the strict emission standards.

The two sides also agreed to ease restrictions on citizens crossing the border by road.

A phalanx of ministers called on the visiting dignitary. Among them were Home Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Water Resources Minister C P Thakur, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission K C Pant.

"The fact that so many of our Cabinet ministers called on the Nepalese prime minister shows both the importance we attach to Indo-Nepal relations and also the vast and deep links between our two countries," MEA officials said.

The Nepalese prime minister invited Vajpayee to visit Nepal, which the latter accepted. The dates will be decided later.

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