In the first ever direct high-level contact between Nepal Maoists and the Indian government, top rebel leader Prachanda on Tuesday met New Delhi's Ambassador to Kathmandu Shiv Shankar Mukherjee and discussed the political situation in the Himalayan country.
During the meeting at the Indian Embassy, which lasted for about an hour, the current political situation in Nepal figured prominently, a spokesperson of the embassy said.
Prachanda was accompanied by his Number 2 Baburam Bhattarai.
The ongoing peace process was the particular focus of the discussions. The five-month old G P Koirala government is currently engaged in a dialogue process with the Maoists aimed at ending the decade-long insurgency in the country.
Significantly, the meeting comes five days ahead of Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister K P Sharma Oli's visit to New Delhi.
There is speculation that besides the ongoing government-Maoist talks, issues like release of Maoist leaders and cadres detained in different jails in India might also have figured during the meeting.
Prachanda met the Indian envoy at a time when the Nepal government and Maoists are preparing ground for the final round of summit talks that would end the 10-year armed conflict and restore permanent peace in the Himalayan nation.
Just two days ago Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala met Prachanda and discussed key issues.
The rebel chief was invited to attend a leadership summit scheduled to take place in Delhi on November 17-18.
But he has declined the invitation saying that he would not go to India unless the government of India agrees to release Maoist leaders from Indian jails, according to rebel mouthpiece Janadesh.
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