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Nepal`s Maoists have to be convinced to return to talks: India

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Dec 6, IRNA -- Advocating a two-pronged strategy to deal 
with the Maoist problem in Nepal, India today asked Kathmandu to 
"convince" the insurgents to return to the negotiating table and 
suggested "aggressive and pro-active" border patrolling by the two 
countries. 
According to Press Trust of India (PTI), the Maoist program had 
some "progressive" elements in it. 
The Maoists had to be convinced that they could not win an armed 
struggle and their "bargaining power" would diminish if they continued
with their agitation for long, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said 
while addressing a seminar entitled "Restoring Peace and Stability in 
Nepal." 
Suggesting "aggressive and pro-active" patrolling by Nepalese 
security forces, he said India had to match it on its side of the 
border so that pressure will mount on the Maoists to return to peace 
talks. 
Saran said the issues would be discussed during Nepal King 
Gyanendra`s visit to India, which is likely to take place later this 
month. 
"The Maoist insurgency in Nepal poses a challenge to both 
countries as it is not limited to geographic boundaries but has 
linkages to similar movements in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh," 
he said. 
The foreign secretary said India was providing training and 
military cooperation to the Royal Nepal Army, but ruled out the 
possibility of joint operations. 
Intelligence cooperation between the two countries had also began 
to yield results, he said. 
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