New Delhi
3 December 2005
India and Nepal have reviewed the "Treaty of
Transit of 6th December, 1991" and exchanged maps on the boundary
issue. The discussions on the Treaty and the boundary-related issues
were held in Kathmandu and Dehradun, respectively.
The Treaty of Transit is renewed every seven years. It will become due
for renewal in January 2006. The Treay allows for the movement of
Nepal's imports and exports between Kolkata and the mutually-agreed
entry and exit points along the India-Nepal border.
An Indian delegation comprising Mr MVPC Sastry, a joint secretary in the
Ministry of Commerce, and Mr Pankaj Saran, a joint secretary in the
Ministry of External Affairs, was in the capital of the Himalayan kingdom
for reviewing the Treaty with their Nepalese counterparts.
The meeting assumes significance because of some concern in New
Delhi about the supply of arms and ammunition by China to Nepal. In a
similar situation, India had imposed unilateral trade embargo in 1988-89
after Nepal imported arms and ammunition from China.
Correspondingly, a Nepalese delegation visited India to discuss the
outstanding boundary issues. Sources said both sides reviewed the
progress made on the demarcation of the boundary and exchanged maps
but the disputed issues of Kalapani and Triveni-Susta were not
discussed.
The sources described the meeting as "regular" and said that it was held
as a sequel to the Joint Technical Committee-level talks held in
September in New Delhi. They said the next meeting of the the Joint
Technical Committee will be held in Kathmandu in January 2006.
The Nepalese side was led by their Deputy Director General of the
Department of Survey, Mr Rabin Kaji Sharma. The Indian side was led by
Brigadier HK Pathak. "More than 95 per cent of the boundary has been
demarcated and only a small portion remained," the sources added.
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