Indian External Minister Krishna arriving Nepal today

Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is arriving Nepal on Friday on a three-day visit to the northern neighbor.

Nepal and India are scheduled to ink five separate pacts for economic and technical cooperation during his first official visit to Nepal.

Officials at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the two countries will ink agreements on establishment of a Nepal Police Academy, construction of roads in Hulaki or Terai Fast-track roads, establishment of a Scientific and Technical Research Centre, upgradation of Nepal Stock Exchange and projects on rural electrification.

External Minister Krishna’s visit comes in the wake of UCPN (Maoist), the largest party in Nepal’s Constituent Assembly election, intensifying their protests against India over alleged encroachment of Nepali territory in bordering areas. They recently held a protest programs in various disputed bordering areas in Indo-Nepal border as a part of their fourth phase of protest programs.

On Thursday, agitating Maoists also burnt down Peace and Friendship Treaty reached between Nepal and India in 1950 in various parts of the country, terming the treaty as ‘unequal’.

Officials at MoFA said Nepal and India are also likely to discuss the issue of alleged Indian "encroachment" in border areas in a high-level talk to be held in Kathmandu during his visit.

Krishna will meet President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and hold bilateral parleys with his counterpart Sujata Koirala.

He is also scheduled to hold meeting with top leaders of various political parties including Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.

- Asian Tribune -