Urged by China, Prachanda seeks better ties with India
Having attacked India at every available opportunity for the past year, Nepal Maoists chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' now apparently wants to cozy up to it — on China's advice. In an interview to The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur dailies after his recent China trip, the former prime minister spoke of a "strategic tripartite partnership" involving India, China and Nepal. He also indicated a possible visit to Delhi.
"There's some confusion between us. Our party feels it is needed to clear them," Kantipur quoted him as saying on Sunday.
In the interviews, Prachanda said he was advised by Chinese leaders to better relations with India.
"Some people are trying to portray that we are siding with China and against India.
That's not true," he was quoted as saying.
"Sometimes we need to address problems from the streets and sometimes sitting across a table. Now we want to sit across a table and discuss," he added.
While the Maoists seem eager to mend fences, Indian officials were guarded in their response for Prachanda is known to frequently retract his statements.
"There's been no discussion with the Maoists regarding Prachanda's visit to New Delhi.
We have no idea about his party's change of stance towards India," said an Indian embassy official in Kathmandu.