India wants to see a stable Nepal: Pranab

KATHMANDU: India’s interest is in seeing a united, stable and peaceful Nepal whose people enjoy the fruits of development and peace, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday.

India is committed to assist Nepal in achieving aspirations of its people, the President, who on a three-day visit to Nepal said at the conclusion of a two-day bilateral dialogue organised by three think tanks from India and Nepal. He pointed out that mutually beneficial cooperation cannot be promoted under the shadow of cross-border terrorism.

“We need to act decisively against this scourge on humanity. The international community must work unitedly to thwart and isolate those who use cross border terrorism as an instrument of state policy.”

“No state should be allowed to sponsor or harbour perpetrators of cowardly acts of terror,” he said. “We must be very vigilant and prevent the misuse of our open border by those who do not have the best interests of India and Nepal at heart.”

“The unique bonds of civilisational linkages between India and Nepal, our time-tested fraternal ties, our open borders and our according national treatment to each other’s citizens underline our shared belief that we have a common destiny,” he said.

Noting that the two countries have maintained steady growth in bilateral trade and mutual investments, he said:“But we can do much more to facilitate trade and promote investments.”