KATHMANDU: Talks between the government and the Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led group have achieved progress with both sides signaling a “positive” ambiance.
The talks held in two phases on Wednesday ended on a positive note, according to Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, a member of the government negotiating team.
Talks between the two sides achieved progress on several sticky issues even though no “concrete agreement” has been reached on the key points.
Both sides are yet to divulge details about the major outcome of the talks.
Nepal’s government and the Biplav group engaged in formal talks on Wednesday.
Dr. Bhattarai, who is also Prime Minister KP Oli’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, said that the talks achieved great outcomes.
Meanwhile, Bhattarai tweeted, “The second round of talks between the Government and the Biplav-led group is close to reaching a consensus and a positive conclusion is expected soon.”
However, even though both sides are close to the same view, progress has not been made public yet.
If his remarks are to be considered, the talks remained issue-centered with both the sides inching toward common positions.
Both sides have claimed that the talks would soon reach a positive conclusion.
The two sides — after holding the first round of dialogue — held the second round at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar late in the afternoon.
The Biplav group formed a team led by secretariat member and spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma and its central member Uday Chalaune on Tuesday to hold dialogue with the government.
Both sides were engaged in multiple rounds of informal talks before the formal dialogue, it has been learned.
The team arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
The government had banned the Biplav group in 2019 citing what it said “terrorist” activities.
A recent cabinet meeting had decided to initiate talks with the group to bring them to the peace process.
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