KATHMANDU: Chairman of the UCPN-M, the main opposition party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', today met visiting Indian External Affairs minister SM Krishna.

"We agreed to restart the relationship from a new dimension," Prachanda told the media following the meeting this evening at Dwarika's Hotel at Battisputali.

"We felt that a favourable environment has been created for discussions to resolve the problems," he added.

"What we tried to convey was that we want a good relationship not on an old basis but on a new one because without this it is difficult to enhance and strengthen our relationship with India," he said.

"Our people want radical changes in our foreign policy; we are going to develop a new foreign policy," he added.

Prachanda said his party has raised issues of old treaties, borders and economic development not to 'disturb' the relationship with India, but to create a more positive and more scientific basis to have a good relationship with India.

According to him, the Indian side also put forth its stance openly and "was very positive."

"They said they were serious in solving all the concerns of the Nepali people," Prachanda said.

"We want discussions on these issues in a very political and diplomatic way," Dahal quoted Krishna as saying during the meeting.

"We clearly put forth our concerns and interests, including border issues, treaties, economic relationship, peace process and drafting of the new constitution."

Prachanda said he clarified that his party was for resolving all these issues through dialogue and creating a good relationship with India.

"Both the parties discussed the concerns openly, while the Indian side feared that the ongoing fourth-phase movement of the Maoists could worsen the relationship instead of improving it," Prachanda added.

He also said that he informed the Indian team that "different circles" were trying to "isolate" his party.

"What I focused was on the change made by Nepal and the drastic changes Nepali people want, even in the leadership and restructuring of the state; they want empowerment, which our neighbours should understand."

Prachanda further said Nepali people's aspirations will not be fulfilled if people think that the existing system alone will do.

Former Prime Minister Dahal also said he told the Indian foreign minister that the Nepali people's mandate, given through the election, had not been respected, while those rejected by the people have come to power.

Prachanda, however, claimed that he didn't raise the issue of change in the government.

Krishna was accompanied by Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood, while Prachanda was accompanied by his foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara.