No foreign interference in Nepal's peace process: India

India on Tuesday said it is against foreign interference in Nepal's peace process and constitution drafting process, as it vowed to facilitate the country's transition into an inclusive multi-party democracy.

India expects the key political parties in Nepal to take further positive steps in their common interest to achieve objectives of completing the peace process and constitution drafting process, country's Ambassador to Nepal, Jayanta Prasad said.

"It is a process to be determined by the people and the political parties of Nepal without any foreign interference," said Prasad during his first interaction with the media, two months after assuming office.

"During the visit of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai to India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his full support to build consensus in Nepal for peace process and constitution rafting to facilitate Nepal's transition to an inclusive multi-party democracy," he pointed out.

At critical times in Nepal's current evolution the people have shown the resolve to solve their differences and work for a common national cause, he pointed out.

Prasad expressed confidence that Nepal will soon be able to attain integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist combatants and the completion of the remaining elements of the peace process and the framing of the constitution.

"These will enable the Nepalese people to achieve greater level of stability, progress and inclusive growth which is exactly the objectives we have in India for our own development," Prasad said.

Nepalese people have simultaneously made three significant achievements in the recent past, he pointed out adding, these include transition to a republic, process of attempting integration of an underground group in the political and social mainstream and reinventing the political structure by framing a new constitution, which is unique in the world", he pointed out.

"It is the particular genius of the Nepalese people to have managed this transition so peacefully." "Dr Manmohan Singh told Dr. Bhattarai in Delhi that India and Nepal share bonds of kinship defined by geography and enriched by history and added that we owed to our peoples to build upon this foundation for the peace and prosperity of the two peoples of our two countries."

Since our future and destiny are irrevocably intertwined India Nepal relations are multi-layered and multi faceted, he pointed out. As Nepal needs more foreign investment to achieve economic prosperity the recently signed BIPPA between Nepal and India will be instrumental in this regard, he said.

In a question he said India wants to help Nepal in its efforts to build the second international airport in Nijgadh near Indian border and fast-track road being built to connect Kathmandu with Terai once Nepal government decides the modality and terms of India's involvement, he said.

He said India's five railway lines are close to Nepalese border and India is willing to help connect these to Nepalese side in order to facilitate more movements of goods and people between the two countries.

Pointing to the need to upgrade the Nepal India Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, by taking into account the changes of the 21st century he said "there will be no problem in reviewing the treaty if there is political will on both sides."

In a question he said he would consider his tenure as successful if he succeeds to bring Indian prime minister to Nepal in the near future. If the current political crisis is resolved within a month we can work out the visit of our prime minister next month, he said. No Indian prime minister has visited Nepal in last 15 years.

Once the internal political matters are settled here it would be appropriate for arranging an official visit by the prime minister as Nepal needs support for achieving economic prosperity once the political issues are resolved.