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'PM's India visit will be limited to be goodwill one'

Former foreign minister Dr Bhesh Bahadur Thapa has presumed that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's first "political visit" to India will be limited to being a "goodwill visit" and nothing significant should be expected from it.

Thapa, who had in the past also served as Nepalis ambassador to India, said that the situation is yet not favourable to press for a review the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty including other bilateral agreements.

There has not been enough preparation for the visit to effectively raise past treaties and agreements, Thapa said while speaking at an interaction at Reporters Club in the capital Friday. "So the prime minister's India visit will be a goodwill visit only."

Thapa warned of the dangers of raising important issues without properly considering its seriousness, adding that it would only contribute to worsening the ties between the two countries.

He said that all the pros and cons of scraping or revising the 1950 treaty should be carefully assessed before taking up the issue further.

Much speculations have been made regarding PM Dahal's maiden Indian visit as the head of the government.

In its front page article titled "Mr Dahal goes to Delhi", today's edition of the weekly news magazine Nepali Times said PM Dahal's visit to India will be "long on symbolism and short on substance".

"It will be a goodwill visit and it is doubtful if Dahal will return on Thursday with anything tangible," the article further said. "There has been little political preparation for the visit and the Maoist advisory committee seems torn between radical nationalists and pragmatists."

The article said the Maoists have publicly called for an overhaul of the 1950 treaty, but haven't specified if they want to abrogate or revise it. Delhi, on the other hand, has agreed to amend it, but wants specific suggestions or a new draft.

"So, expect a reiteration by both sides to re-examine the treaty in principle," the article said. nepalnews.com ag Sep 12 08