REVISITING PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP

Progress was seemingly made on a number of bilateral issues as Nepal prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (aka ‘Prachanda’) concluded his first official trip to India. As the Maoists have long called for, it was announced that India had agreed to revisit the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty as well as other bilateral agreements. A foreign secretary-level committee has been established to look into the matter. Both parties were reluctant to discuss the nature and extent of the alterations to the treaty, saying only that a revision was called for considering the changes that had taken place in India and Nepal.
Considering the destruction caused by the recent Kosi flood, the two sides also agreed to find a long-term solution to the issue. No alternatives were discussed. New Delhi did however approve a relief fund of 20 crores to assist Nepali flood victims. In water management, another big issue between the two countries, New Delhi said it was eager to help Nepal reach its goal of harnessing 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity by 2020.
Overall, PM Dahal’s five-day trip to India was marked by much bhai-bhai camaraderie. And though there appears to have been a general consensus on crucial bilateral issues, the visit was big on rhetoric and rather lacking in specific options.