Nepal pledges not to allow its soil to be used against India

Nepal today sought to address India's concerns with regard to fake currency being smuggled from here, pledging that it will not allow its territory to be used against its neighbour as the two sides inked four pacts for cooperation in fields like infrastructure, power and science and technology.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is here on a three-day visit, met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and his counterpart and deputy Premier Sujata Koirala.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister, Krishna voiced concern about Nepal being used to pump in fake currency to India.

On the Kalapani border issue, Krishna said it should be dealt with at the political level.

He also emphasised the need for "constant vigil" on the security front, considering the fact that "terrorists find safe haven" in the neighbourhood.

After his meeting with Nepal, the External Affairs Minister said, "We have been assured that Nepalese soil will not be allowed to be used against any neighbour which includes India."

"We are indeed satisfied with that. We discussed that constant vigil will have to be kept," Krishna said.

Besides, he said, they discussed security concerns, security of neighbourhood with reference to terrorism and instrumentalities of terrorism.

Krishna and Nepal discussed the peace process in this country and issues related to framing of a new Constitution as also a proposed extradition treaty.

The two sides also signed four pacts, including one for construction of a road in Terai. The road, that will provide better connectivity with India, will be built at a cost of Rs 680 crore.

Another pact was in the power sector and entailed electrification of five villages in Nepal.

MoUs were also to be signed for establishment of a Scientific and Research Centre in Nepal and providing Central Depository System facility for Nepal Stock Exchange.

Earlier in the day, Krishna held delegation-level talks with Nepalese Deputy Premier Koirala on a wide range of subjects that also covered developmental assistance and projects to be undertaken by India.

The two sides discussed border security and crimes like smuggling of fake currency, arms, humans and drugs and ways to combat them through cooperation.

"We talked how to solve these problems," Koirala told reporters after the talks while asserting that Nepal would not allow its soil to be used for any anti-India activity.

Earlier this month, Nepal police, acting on CBI's request, had arrested four people, including two Pakistani nationals and the son of an influential politician here, in connections with a fake Indian currency and drugs racket having links to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.