Indo-Nepal transit treaty extended by three months

India has extended by three months the transit treaty with Nepal after two rounds of negotiations. The decision had taken Nepal by surprise,...

India has extended by three months the transit treaty with Nepal after two rounds of negotiations. The decision had taken Nepal by surprise, which expected an automatic renewal.

While the treaty does provide for renewal, South Block officials said it also permitted negotiations before a renewal is effected. India wanted to discuss technical issues like rationalisation of transit points, passage of Indian goods through Nepal to bordering states like Bihar, and also insert new rail links developed after the treaty was signed.

“Modalities, routes, conditions of transit, and customs arrangements as contained in the protocol and memorandum to the treaty have been extended by us for three months, from January 6, 2006 to April 5,” said a MEA spokesperson. It was done to enable the two governments to complete review as required under the treaty, he added. The countries held joint secretary-level talks between ministries of commerce over the last two days wherein officials reviewed modalities, routes, conditions of transit, and customs arrangements as contained in the protocol and memorandum to the treaty.

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