India congratulates Nepal, hopes for smoother peace process

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will pay a two-day visit to Nepal next week. Nirupama Rao will pay courtesy calls on Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and hold official talks with her counterpart, Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya, during her visit.

August 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Saturday offered its "full support" to the peace process in Nepal, with both countries also saying they would hold discussions on reworking their Treaty of Peace and Friendship that was signed nearly six decades ago. "The Prime Minister of India expressed full support for the ongoing peace process and efforts to bring about economic transformation in Nepal," said a joint statement issued on the conclusion of Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's five-day visit to India.

August 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India and Nepal Wednesday discussed the finalisation of a revised trade treaty as Kathmandu promised to push the peace process at home and made a pitch for more Indian investment. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is in India on a five-day visit - his first to the country since assuming office nearly three months ago.

August 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Promising to push the peace process in Nepal, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday unveiled a slew of initiatives, including an industrial security plan, to attract Indian investment to his country. Making a strong pitch for a revised trade treaty between Nepal and India, Nepal's prime minister stressed that attracting foreign investment topped priority of his government and assuaged anxieties of Indian investors wishing to invest in his country.

August 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Amid the drifting peace process in Nepal, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday began a five-day visit to India - his first to the country since he assumed office nearly three months ago. Nepal's visit is primarily a goodwill trip that is aimed at keeping the traditionally strong relationship with India -- tested after the Maoist victory in polls last year -- on an even keel.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Visiting Nepal Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala met L K Advani, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Thursday. On Wednesday, Koirala met Home Minister P Chidambaram.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Visiting Nepal Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala met Home Minister P Chidambaram here on Wednesday. The leaders discussed cross-border terrorism, border encroachment and other threats.

July 26th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday dismissed reports in the Nepali and Indian media that his government was on an arms-shopping spree in India, saying they were "baseless rumours". Summoned by a parliamentary committee Sunday to clarify his coalition government's stand on making fresh arms purchases from India and other internal issues, the communist leader said his government would not do anything to endanger the ongoing peace process.

July 22nd, 2009 KATHMANDU - Former Nepal prime minister and current opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has asked the new government of Nepal not to resume buying arms from India, warning that it would hit the ongoing peace negotiations adversely. Prachanda, whose Maoist party fought a 10-year battle to overthrow Nepal's constitutional monarchy, has asked Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal not to seek fresh military assistance from India, Prachanda's aide Samir Dahal told IANS.

July 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Thursday voiced concern at the floundering peace process in Nepal that has jeopardised the framing of its constitution and reiterated its commitment to support the Himalayan state in its democratic transition and economic development. New Delhi also denied allegations in the Nepali media about encroachments on the border by the Indian border force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

June 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon leaves for Kathmandu Saturday amid continuing political instability in the Himalayan state for a two-day trip that is expected to set the stage for Nepal's new Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's visit to India. Menon will meet Nepal and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and discuss a host of issues, including the floundering peace process and progress in drafting of the new constitution.

May 25th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood and United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Karen Ladgren have separately met newly elected Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter's residence, Koteshwor. They congratulated Nepal on his election as the new Prime Minister and extended best wishes for his successful term.

May 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - 'Concerned' over the crisis in Nepal, India's ruling Congress party Monday said 'democratic process is necessary' for stability in that country. 'Its an internal matter of Nepal.

May 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Hours after Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda resigned as Nepal's prime minister, India Monday pushed for 'broadest possible political consensus' and hoped that the present crisis in its eastern neighbour is resolved in a manner which contributes to the early conclusion of the peace process. Reacting to the crisis in Nepal sparked off after the sacking of the army chief and subsequent resignation of Prachanda, New Delhi struck a cautious note saying 'what is happening in Nepal is internal to Nepal'.

April 19th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda has told British Under Secretary of State for Defense and Minister for Veterans Kevan Jones that the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) may be asked to stop work after the integration of the army and the rehabilitation of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants by July. Jones, in his departure statement at the end of his five-day visit to Nepal, said that the people of Nepal could be assured of Britain's steadfast support, both for peace building and for development.