India willing to 're-visit' 1950 treaty with Nepal: SM Krishna

Heeding to Nepal's demand, India today said it is willing to 're-visit' the 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty, but the initiative should come from this country, as more clarity is required.

"We are open to it," external affairs minister SM Krishna told reporters as he wound up his three-day visit here.

Justifying the need for revising the 1950 treaty, he said 60 years have past since it was signed. The world has changed since then, and the Cold War has ended, he added.

"We are entirely willing to re-visit this treaty, but the initiative has to come from Nepal. There has to be enough clarity (from Nepal)," Krishna said. "There has to be enough thought of what they want."

This issue was flagged by all Nepalese leaders who met Krishna during his visit here. The Maoists are particularly being pressing for scrapping the treaty, saying it was unequal.

Asked about the delay in signing of the extradition treaty between the two countries, Krishna said that India would certainly like to move fast on it, but is willing to wait till the Nepalese side is ready.

India has been keen on this treaty, but lack of consensus among political parties in Nepal is delaying its signing.

"There are some time delays.... India has enormous patience," Krishna said.