Nepal for national consensus over extradition pact with India

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KATHMANDU, Sep 21 (PTI): Nepal Saturday said it will try to forge a national consensus before signing a proposed extradition treaty with India.
"We will initiate a discussion among various political parties to reach a consensus in the matter," Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam told PTI here.
A draft extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance treaty was in place during the direct rule of former King Gyanendra, when the two Home Secretaries' had approved it at their level. The treaty deals with the procedures to extradite criminals and terrorists who go into hiding in each other's country.
During Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's tenure last year, then Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula was scheduled to visit India to finalise the extradition treaty, but he had to cancel the trip due to Maoists' opposition to the pact.
Maoists, whose cadres had been arrested in India, were apparently afraid the treaty would facilitate their transfer to Nepal.
The treaty issue did not figure in Premier Prachanda's talks with the Indian leadership during his recent five-day visit there.
India has been keen to have such a legal framework as terrorists active there have been found to take shelter in Nepal.
Gautam said the Nepal government was committed to improving law and order situation in border areas in coordination with India.
"We have been constantly in touch with Indian authorities and working together to check illegal activities in the border area," he said.