PM meets Nepal king

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Nepal King Gyanendra in Jakarta on Saturday marking the first contact at the highest level between India and the Himalayan Kingdom since the monarch seized power on February 1.

Meeting on the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta, they agreed that it was "necessary to restart the political process in Nepal without delay and that this in turn would enable His Majesty's government to deal with the Maoist insurgency," Secretary (East) in External Affairs Ministry Rajiv Sikri told reporters.

During the 45-minute meeting at which External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh was also present, the prime minister
and King Gyanendra deliberated on the situation in Nepal in a "frank and cordial" manner, he said.

Gyanendra later said the Indian side had assured to end the suspension of military aid to his country. The Indian premier promised to look at from a "proper perspective" the monarch's request for the resumption of Indian military aid.

The royal palace's unhappiness with the Indian stand has been obvious.

India had suspended military aid to Nepal after the king assumed absolute power, sacking the Sher Bahadur Deuba government on February 1.

Sikri said both Singh and the King emphasised on the unique nature of Indo-Nepal relations.

The King, who is on his first visit abroad after he seized power, addressing the Summit on Friday assured the leaders of ending the emergency and said his "commitment to multi-party democracy, human rights and rule of law is total and unflinching."

Also see: Natwar meets King Gyanendra
Special: A kingdom under siege