‘Nepal is yet to take up 1950 Friendship Treaty with India’

Nepal has so far not taken up the revision of the 1950 Friendship Treaty with India, a high level official source said here on Tuesday. The statement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May 11-12 visit to the country, when both sides are likely to fast track diplomatic and infrastructural steps to firm up bilateral ties.

“Government of Nepal has not raised the issue of revision of the 1950 treaty officially with us so far,” said the source.

The Hindu had reported earlier that the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), consisting of Nepali and Indian members, was likely to submit a report in June, advising both sides to revise the 1950 treaty.

The EPG members had earlier indicated that the report and the fate of the 1950 treaty would come up for discussion during Mr. Modi’s visit.

“Our focus is connectivity with Nepal of which railway is the first priority. That apart, expanding road networks and, inland navigation is the next level...during the visit we hope to begin the process of revising the treaty of transit,” said the source