Indo-Nepal Transit Treaty extended upto 2013

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) The Indo-Nepal Transit Treaty has been renewed for another seven years, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said today.

The Treaty had expired on January five this year.

''Following the completion of the review process provided for under Article XI, the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal which was in force upto January five, 2006, has been renewed with mutually agreed-technical modifications for a further period of seven years,'' Mr Sarna said in response to a question.

The two countries had extended the Treaty by three months in December last year after India sought some amendments to it including rationalisation of the existing number of transit points between the two neighbouring countries.

However, the Treaty was extended without any major changes, sources said.

They said Nepal had agreed to move ''sensitive goods'' only through agreed transit points. The sources did not elaborate on the nature of ''sensitive goods.'' In 1978 India agreed to a long-term demand of Nepal and separated Trade and Transit Treaties.

While the Trade treaty is extended every five years, the Transit Treaty is renewed every seven years.

The Trade Treaty has already been renewed by another five years from March five, 2002, until March five, 2007.

UNI RB MSJ DS1415