Kathmandu, November 15
At the time when anti-Indian protests are at the peak over India’s recently published new political map in Nepal, officials of two countries are meeting in Pokhara next week to discuss border security issues.
Discussions on the recently published map and the disputes caused by it, however, have not been listed on the agenda, informs officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs. “We will discuss issues such as cross-border crimes and joint patrolling. Discussions on border disputes have not been planned yet.”
The bilateral meeting is scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Friday next week. Nepal will be represented by senior Armed Police Force officials whereas India by officials of Seema Suraksha Bal. APF chief Shailendra Basnet had drafted the agenda and submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry has already forwarded the agenda to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The neighbours have agreed to conduct such meetings every year, but only three were held in the past seven years. The last meeting was held in August 2016 in India.
