India ready to contribute to Nepal's stability

New Delhi, May 4: India today said Nepal should sort out all challenges through peaceful political means and conveyed its readiness to contribute to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the Himalayan kingdom.

India's Ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, called on Nepalese Prime Minister G P Koirala in Kathmandu today and congratulated him on the assumption of office at this crucial juncture in Nepal's history.

He expressed confidence that the new Koirala government would successfully address all challenges, the External Affairs Ministry said here.

Mr Mukherjee also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs K.P. Sharma Oli, Home Minister Krishna- Sitaula, Minister for Finance Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahant Thakur and discussed with them the current situation in Nepal.

He reiterated India's readiness to contribute to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Nepal to the best of its ability and resources.

Asked that India had not officially reacted to the ceasefire in Nepal and also whether the Koirala government would involve Maoists in the interim government, the spokesman said the new government had a roadmap that they have discussed in Parliament and it was up to the Government to pursue this further.

''Our general position is that the challenges that Nepal faces have to be sorted out through peaceful political means,'' the spokesman said.

UNI