Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, presently on a visit to New Delhi, hopes to make sure that India doesn't become a safe haven for Maoist leaders responsible for fomenting violence in the Himalayan kingdom. Bloody clashes between the Maoists and security forces in the last six years have already claimed over 3,000 lives and destroyed property running into crores. Excerpts from an interview by Yubaraj Ghimire:
What is your agenda in the ongoing talks with India?
Will this issue then dominate your agenda in India?
What kind of cooperation are you looking at from India?
Does that mean procuring arms from India?
It seems you have also been promised support from the US and the UK in your campaign against Maoists. There are also indications that these two countries have directed India's attention to the alleged presence of Maoist leaders on its territory?
New Delhi often accuses Kathmandu of allowing its territory to be used by Pakistan's ISI for conducting anti-India activities?
Yours was the first government in the past six years of Maoist insurgency to attempt a negotiated settlement with the insurgents. Why did it fail? And why did the government take the extreme measure of seeking a military solution to the problem?
Does this mean no possibility of ever holding talks with the insurgents?
How long is the emergency in Nepal going to continue?
