BIRATNAGAR: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Ishwor Pokhrel said the army will be mobilized only with the decision of the National Security Council.

Talking to journalists at Biratnagar Airport on Monday, Minister Pokhrel said the army can be mobilized only after the President approves a proposal brought by the Prime Minister in the capacity of the Chair of the Council and endorsed by the meeting of the Council of Ministers, if the Council’s meeting cannot take place.

He added that such a proposal has to be approved by the House of Representatives (HoR) a month after the army mobilization. Minister Pokhrel further maintained that it would be wrong to say that the Prime Minister can alone mobilize the army.

On the occasion, he said talks would be held with the Biplav-led faction only if it abandoned arms. “The government will not hold talks with a faction raising arms,” he said.