Amid growing controversy over its mandate, the caretaker government in Nepal has sought another four month extension for the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN).
In a letter to UN Security Council, the government has asked UNMIN to monitor former Maoist rebels, their
cantonments and arms while remaining silent on its role over Nepal Army.
"The government has requested UNSC to renew UNMIN's term with a mandate to focus only on monitoring and management of Maoist combatants," the Republica quoted Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong.
The term of UNMIN — which has been monitoring the peace process since 2007 — expires on September 15 and there are differences on its role and term extension.
While most parties want it to leave Nepal or work with a limited mandate of monitoring only the Maoists combatants, the Maoist party wants it to stay till completion of the peace process.
Diplomats of most western nations have urged Nepal to extend UNMIN's mandate.