“Any controversial issues that needs consensus among political parties at home will not feature in the agendas during the prime minister´s visit to India," a source close to the prime minister said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday when officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked on tentative agendas of the visit. [break]
The source said Nepal does not feel “comfortable” about discussing these issues despite requests from the southern neighbor.
Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai is embarking on a four-day official visit of India on October 21.
Finalizing the extradition treaty, signing agreements on mutual legal assistance, strip maps and stationing of air marshals at the Tribhuvan International Airport have been perennial issues of India´s interest. But successive governments have deliberately been reluctant to sign any agreement on these issues, fearing controversy at home.
“India, like in previous visits and meetings, has proposed that these issues be made the agendas of the prime minister´s visit,” said a knowledgeable source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Though Nepal and India are close to agreement on extradition treaty, the south Asian neighbors harbor differences on provisions of mutual legal assistance and stationing of air marshals at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Nepal has been seeking resolution of border disputes in Kalapani and Susta before signing the strip maps prepared by experts from both the countries but India wants the signing to happen now and settle the Kalapani and Susta issue later.
During the visit of the prime minister -- first of its kind since August 2009 -- Nepal wants to see finalization of the agreement on power trade with India. But the southern neighbor has signaled to the government that it is not ready for the agreement.
"A draft of the agreement is ready but India seems hesitant about discussing it during the prime minister´s visit," said another government official.
Government officials involved in finalizing the agendas of the prime minister´s visit said Nepal is taking up issues related to commerce, trade and development with India during the prime minister´s visit.
Nepal will ask India for additional facilities with regard to using the Kakarvitta-Fulbari-Banglabanda route linking Bangladesh and for enforcement of the existing agreement on allowing Nepal to use the Vishakhapatnum port as early as possible without imposing any additional lock system.
Similarly, Nepal will ask India to allow Nepali commercial goods carrying containers to reach the Bangladesh border without the escort of Indian security. Currently, Nepali containers have to offload commercial goods near Banglabanda and containers from Bangladesh carry them to their destination. Similarly, Nepali containers are not permitted along the Kakarvitta-Phulbari-Banglabanda route at night and during public holidays.
Nepal will also seek Indian assistance to remove additional customs duty of four percent on export of 162 Nepali goods so as to increase competitive strength of Nepali goods, according to officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. Similarly, Nepal will request India to withdraw additional lock system on import of goods from overseas countries to Nepal via the Kolkata port. The additional lock system, according to traders, has been creating problems in delivering goods.
Further detailing the agendas of the prime minister´s India visit, officials said Nepal will ask for Indian assistance to construct Raxaul-Amlekhgunj 41-kilometer
petroleum pipeline on both sides and hand it over to Nepal to facilitate smooth supply of petroleum products from India to Nepal. Earlier, Nepal and India had agreed to jointly construct the pipeline.
Nepal´s wish list with India also includes signing the letter of exchange on bringing the Rohanpur-Sighabad railway service, which is expected to be instrumental in boosting trade between Nepal and Bangladesh, into operation.
In addition, Nepal will request India to construct 53 bridges along the Hulaki Sadak in the Tarai.
Officials said they have tentative agendas from different ministries that should feature during the prime minister´s India visit.
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