No agreement with India on TIA security: Dr. Mahat

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Mar. 6:Foreign Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has denied India’s claim that Nepal “agreed in principle” to allowing Indian security personnel to operate at the capital’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

“The news that the government made secret agreement with the Indian authority regarding security at TIA is misleading and not true,” he said furnishing the lawmakers’ queries at today’s sitting in the House of Representatives. “We have made no such agreement with India.”

“We have adequate resources and manpower to provide security at the airport. It is our responsibility,” he said. “We do not accept the presence of foreign army in our land and therefore do not allow them to be here.”

Earlier MPs had asked for the government’s view on an AFP news report, which quoted an Indian State Minister as saying that Nepal had shown some positive signs about stationing Indian army at TIA.

According to AFP, Indian State Minister for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta said that the Indian authority wanted their army at TIA to ensure security. “Some compromise is being reached on that matter and talks are at an advanced stage,” Gupta was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Responding to Parliamentarians’ queries, Dr. Mahat said the government would make public the full text of the Indian minister’s speech, which “we are yet to receive.”

Dr. Mahat said that the security measures would be arranged as per the standard set by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and expressed hope that the frozen Indian flights to Nepal would soon resume after the security issues were resolved.

Following the hijacking of an Indian aeroplane from Kathmandu airport in December last year, all the Indian flights inbound to Nepal were suspended citing security lapses. However, the government has reiterated that no stones were left unturned regarding security measures.

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