Experts suggest 1950 treaty review

Experts suggest 1950 treaty review
eKantipur.com, 22-April-2007

Considering the "changing relations" between Nepal and India, policy experts of both countries have requested the respective governments to review the provisions of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 as well as the 1947 Tri-partite Treaty on Gurkha soldiers.

Summing up the two-day international conference on ''India-Nepal Relations: Looking at the Future'', on Saturday, they reiterated that relations between the two countries should be reviewed and renewed on the basis of Nepal's transition to new a political system and federal structure.

The 10-point recommendation prepared by experts with inputs from government officials includes development of physical infrastructure along the border and institutional linkages between the two countries, especially in social development, including in the field of health and education.

''Given the changes that are visible at all levels of relationship between India and Nepal, there may be a need to review the provisions of the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty, as well as the 1947 Tri-partite treaty on Gurkha soldiers'' experts have concluded.

The conference - organized by India's foreign policy think tank, the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) - was participated in by Nepal's former foreign minister and ex-ambassador to India Bhekh Bahadur Thapa; academicians Dr Chaitanya Mishra, Dr Bishwambhar Pyakuryal, Dr Puskar Bajracharya and Prof Ajaya Bhadra Khanal from Nepal. Those participating from the Indian aide were Pankaj Saran, Joint Secretary -North at the Ministry of External Affairs; academician Mahendra P Lama; Director General of ICWA Talmiz Ahmad; Former Foreign Secretary Shashank; and former Indian ambassador to Nepal MK Rasgotra, among others.

The experts recommended that the border should be made a point of opportunity rather than a corridor of vice. "The border may be treated from a larger perspective of variety of exchanges and movements," they said.