India, Nepal to enhance security, defence ties

Nepal on Thursday assured New Delhi it would not allow any activity against India, as the two sides signed eight pacts, including on cooperation in countering drug trafficking and post-earthquake reconstruction in the Himalayan nation.

After comprehensive talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid emphasis on closer cooperation between the two countries’ security and defence forces to prevent any misuse of their open border.

“Defence ties and assistance in security are an important aspect of our partnership. Our defence interests are also dependent on and connected to each other,” Modi said at a joint press briefing after the talks. On his part, Deuba gave an assurance of “every support, every help and cooperation”.

“I would like to assure you (Modi) Nepal will never allow any activity against friendly neighbour India and there will be every support, every help and cooperation from our side,” Deuba said. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said India conveyed to Nepal that the country should forge the “broadest possible consensus” and take every section of the people along in implementing its new Constitution.