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— Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda’s goodwill visit to India marks the beginning of a new chapter of bilateral relations. The focus of the visit will be discussions on a number of treaties which have since outlived their time. On the top of the visiting Prime Minister’s agenda is the controversial Peace and Friendship Treaty 1950, a draft of which Prachanda has carried with him. The former revolutionary has been utterly critical of this pact and wants a fresh start immediately. A few water treaties which are likely to be thoroughly discussed are the Kosi, Mahakali and Gandak agreements. The 1954 Kosi pact has especially come to the forefront after the recent devastating floods, which rendered over one lakh people homeless in the Himalayan country while affecting more than three million in neighbouring Bihar. Prachanda will certainly press for relief and reconstruction measures, also because the treaty makes it India’s responsibility to repair and maintain all constructions on the river. While the 1996 Mahakali pact has remained non-operational all these years, Nepal regards the Gandak water treaty as lopsided because it feels India derives maximum benefits from the pact.
Prachanda has come with bagful of demands, but India, as of now, should not expect anything to gain beyond giving relations with Nepal a new beginning. The Maoist chief is known for his fierce anti-India sentiments, while he has already made it clear that friendship with China is a top priority. Significantly, Nepal’s first post-monarchy premier had visited Beijing first after assuming charge, and it was not lost on India for it had always been a tradition with all Nepalese heads of state to visit India first. New Delhi, however, should ignore the anti-India pronouncements Prachanda had made in the past and accept his present, rather mellowed, position to maintain equidistance from both the Asian giants. It must maintain cordial relations with Nepal also to prevent any possible links between Maoists on either side of the border, although India itself needs to do more to bring Naxalites into the mainstream. Most importantly, it is a fact that many of the treaties with Nepal have become obsolete and reviewing, or even modifying them are now deemed essential. For now, India may consider Nepal’s demand for forming a special task force to finalise the draft of a new Peace and Friendship Treaty, so as to give a meaningful start to the bilateral ties. source: assam tribune editorial 17.09.08
— Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda’s goodwill visit to India marks the beginning of a new chapter of bilateral relations. The focus of the visit will be discussions on a number of treaties which have since outlived their time. On the top of the visiting Prime Minister’s agenda is the controversial Peace and Friendship Treaty 1950, a draft of which Prachanda has carried with him. The former revolutionary has been utterly critical of this pact and wants a fresh start immediately. A few water treaties which are likely to be thoroughly discussed are the Kosi, Mahakali and Gandak agreements. The 1954 Kosi pact has especially come to the forefront after the recent devastating floods, which rendered over one lakh people homeless in the Himalayan country while affecting more than three million in neighbouring Bihar. Prachanda will certainly press for relief and reconstruction measures, also because the treaty makes it India’s responsibility to repair and maintain all constructions on the river. While the 1996 Mahakali pact has remained non-operational all these years, Nepal regards the Gandak water treaty as lopsided because it feels India derives maximum benefits from the pact.
Prachanda has come with bagful of demands, but India, as of now, should not expect anything to gain beyond giving relations with Nepal a new beginning. The Maoist chief is known for his fierce anti-India sentiments, while he has already made it clear that friendship with China is a top priority. Significantly, Nepal’s first post-monarchy premier had visited Beijing first after assuming charge, and it was not lost on India for it had always been a tradition with all Nepalese heads of state to visit India first. New Delhi, however, should ignore the anti-India pronouncements Prachanda had made in the past and accept his present, rather mellowed, position to maintain equidistance from both the Asian giants. It must maintain cordial relations with Nepal also to prevent any possible links between Maoists on either side of the border, although India itself needs to do more to bring Naxalites into the mainstream. Most importantly, it is a fact that many of the treaties with Nepal have become obsolete and reviewing, or even modifying them are now deemed essential. For now, India may consider Nepal’s demand for forming a special task force to finalise the draft of a new Peace and Friendship Treaty, so as to give a meaningful start to the bilateral ties. source: assam tribune editorial 17.09.08
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