Nepal formally presented a proposal seeking to amend the 1950 Nepal-India Peace and Friendship Treaty at the second meeting of the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) that began in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Treaty of Transit between Nepal and India was another prominent agenda of the meeting.

The Indian side has agreed to initiate deliberations on the amendment proposal on 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship presented by Nepal.

The EPG, which has four members each from both the countries, was formed with an aim to look into the totality of Nepal-India relations from independent, non-governmental perspectives and suggest measures to further expand and consolidate the close and multifaceted relations between the two countries.

The first meeting of the EPG was held in Kathmandu in July.

Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, coordinator of the Nepali side of the EPG, shared with the EPG members Nepal’s point of view about the amendment to the 66-year-old treaty signed between the two countries in the changed context.

The agenda has been formally put on the table and discussions will continue, said an EPG member requesting anonymity. The key clauses of the 1950 Treaty that Thapa put for discussion are need for India’s consent for Nepal to purchase defence hardware from the third countries, recruitment of Gorkha soldiers and preference for India in the development of Nepal’s natural resources. The treaty also gives equal opportunities for the citizens of both the countries to purchase properties in both the countries, and Nepal is seeking to amend this provision as well, according to a member.

The first EPG meeting in Kathmandu in July had identified five areas—political issues, government-to-government relations, cultural issues, trade and connectivity—for discussions.

A review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship is the topmost agenda of the EPG.

Mahendra P Lama, a member of the EPG from the Indian, said candid and extensive discussions were held on ways to make changes in the treaty that could be acceptable to both sides. “Broader discussions were held on issues related to economy and security apart from ways to consolidate the treaty,” Lama told the Post. Lama also presented a paper on Tuesday about the Treaty of Transit between the two countries.

The EPG meeting will conclude on Wednesday.

According to members, next round of meeting will be held in Kathmandu and before that the two sides will study the proposals.