Nepal, India agree to tackle terrorism

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S M Krishna had a successful tour of Nepal, with the two nations agreeing to closely cooperate in tackling the menace of terrorism.

A joint statement issued at the end of Mr Krishna’s three-day official visit said Mr Krishna and his Nepali counterpart Sujata Koirala had discussed a range of issues, including assistance to Nepali security agencies. “The two ministers discussed security concerns of the respective countries and agreed terrorism and extremism were a threat to both countries,” the 20-point joint statement said. “They agreed to cooperate to end this menace.”

The statement comes close on the heels of a similar agreement between India and Bangladesh during the state visit of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

India has been working hard with each of its neighbours to build trust and thwart attempts of Pakistan and terror organisations based in that country to use the neighbourhood to sneak in terrorists and use camps in these nations for anti-India operations. Promotion of trade and financial aid has helped India win the confidence of these nations, which hitherto used to feel insecure by the size of the neighbour.

The statement said, “the two ministers also discussed ways to enhance bilateral security cooperation to control cross border crimes such as smuggling of fake Indian currency, human trafficking and arms smuggling,” the statement said. Mr Krishna said India was willing to provide all possible assistance requested by Nepal for its forces.

Security assistance has been a sensitive issue with Nepal’s Maoists, who say it would violate a peace agreement that ended their decades-long insurgency.