Nepal Dy-PM to brief India on Maoist issue

Nepal8217;s Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be here next week to brief New Delhi on the status of ongoing negotiations on the issue of Maoists laying down their arms, besides holding consultations with the UPA government on a range of issues. India on its part is likely to raise with him the proposed extradition treaty that has created some difficulties for the Koirala government in Kathmandu.

Oli will be the first foreign minister from the Himalayan nation to meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He is expected to be here on a five-day visit starting November 5. It may be noted that Nepal8217;s Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitoula recently postponed a visit to New Delhi at the last minute apparently after opposition to the extradition treaty by the Maoists.

The visit will come at a time when the Nepal government is looking to hold its second summit level talks with the Maoists on laying down their arms. On Sunday, PM GP Koirala met Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai as well as the Indian Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.