Nepal-India mutual legal assistance pact ready for signing
Summary
Nepal and India are set to sign a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement on criminal matters to enhance cooperation against transnational crime, overcoming previous legal hurdles in extradition and investigative collaboration.
Key Points
- Nepal and India are preparing to sign an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) on criminal matters to facilitate cooperation against transnational crimes.
- The MLA agreement will enable faster sharing of investigative evidence and cooperation in prosecution between the two countries' legal bodies.
- Political timing of the signing is under consideration due to Nepal's upcoming March elections, but both sides have shown readiness to formalize the pact.
- The existing extradition treaty between Nepal and India has expired, and differences over third-country nationals have delayed a new treaty, making the MLA pact a crucial legal framework.
