Kathmandu, 08 February (H.S.): Nepal and India are finalizing preparations to sign a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Discussions continue on whether to execute the signing before or after Nepal's upcoming elections.

Preliminary consensus on this agreement was reached during a home secretary-level meeting in New Delhi last July. The interim government led by Sushila Karki decided in October to proceed with the signing.Officials from Nepal's Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry confirmed that talks are ongoing regarding the signing timeline.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai stated that a date will soon be finalized based on mutual agreement.Once implemented, the treaty will enhance control over cross-border crimes, streamline information exchange, facilitate sharing of investigative evidence, bolster prosecution cooperation, and strengthen coordination between the two nations' legal agencies in criminal probes. Both countries have engaged in dialogue on this for years.

In the absence of mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties, security officials have long grappled with legal and administrative complexities when handing over criminals across borders.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar