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http://kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=59105 India proposes review of transit points
Ameet Dhakal
KATHMANDU, Dec 6 - Nepal-India transit talks ended inconclusively on Saturday after India proposed, among other things, a review of the number of existing transit points.
A highly placed government official, on condition of anonymity, said the Indian delegation proposed discussions on rationalization of transit points, movement of goods sensitive in nature, access to other Indian territory through Nepal and railway modalities.
The official said Nepal was particularly concerned about the first two issues -- rationalization of transit points and movement of goods sensitive in nature.
"We are not sure why India wants to review transit points at this point and what exactly it wants to talk about concerning the movement of sensitive goods," the official said, adding, "These are sensitive issues and need to be dealt with at the political level."
Officials are concerned about the motive of the Indian side given the acrimonious relationship between the two neighbours at the political level in the post-February one period.
India, according to the official, hasn't directly proposed reduction of the number of transit points "but one can easily guess where they are headed."
The suspicion of the Nepali side has a history to it. In 1989, when Nepal-India relations soured, the southern neighbour pulled the transit leverage that it enjoys over the land-locked Himalayan kingdom.
Then, India had shut down all but two of the 15 transit points following the expiry of the Nepal-India Trade and Transit Treaty, causing a near-collapse of Nepal's fragile economy.
The Nepali side is also suspicious about India's proposal to discuss the movement of sensitive goods. India is not only demanding review of the mode of transportation of 'sensitive' goods but also wants to allocate certain transit points for cross-border movement of such goods. Media reports, a few months ago, about a state-sponsored plan to smuggle subsidized fertilizer from the Indian market had alarmed India. Nepal later on averted the plan.
When asked why transit talks ended inconclusively, Jawed Ashraf, commerce secretary at the Indian embassy said, "The meeting was not inconclusive. We had very productive discussions. Issues that require further examination and consultations were identified. We look forward to continuing our engagement on these issues."
He also argued that the two governments, in accordance with a provision of the treaty, decided to carry out a review of arrangements under the treaty.
He, however, indirectly conceded that India has proposed review of the existing transit routes. He said, "Rationalization of transit routes and designating routes for movements of sensitive goods were among the issues that came up in the meeting."
The existing Transit Treaty between Nepal and India expires on January 5, 2006. Signed in 1999, the treaty has a provision for automatic renewal every seven years unless terminated by either party with a prior notice of six months.
However, the treaty also says that the two countries will review the modalities, routes, conditions of transit and customs arrangements before such renewal takes place.
This leaves room for different interpretations about the continuous implementation of the treaty unless there is a joint review before its expiry.
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