Nepal's top three parties against signing any anti-national deal with India

Nepal's top three political parties - the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) -- have decided not to sign any deal with India that has a long-term effect and goes against the national interest of Nepal.

The three parties held a joint meeting at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu, immediately after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

The parties' meeting decided to raise issues that benefit both the countries. The parties further welcomed the proposed high-level visit from India after a long time.

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is already in Kathmandu to attend a joint commission meeting between the governments of the two countries, as also to set the agenda for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in August.

Swaraj is leading a 23-member Indian delegation to the meeting, which is being held after 23 years. The Joint Commission is the supreme body that oversees matters related to Nepal-India relations.

Soon after her arrival in Kathmandu on Friday evening, Swaraj said, "Nepal is always on India's top priority," the Indian Foreign Minister said. "I am hopeful that the Commission meeting will be fruitful in strengthening our bilateral ties."

The Joint Commission meeting is expected to have five clusters - political, security and border issues; economic co-operation and infrastructure; trade and transit; power and water resources; and culture, education and media.

During her stay in Nepal, Swaraj is scheduled to meet Nepal's President, Vice President, Prime Minister and key leaders of major political parties.

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and senior officials from the External Affairs and other ministries are accompanying Swaraj on her visit to the Nepal capital.