KATHMANDU; The members of the Special Committee on the integration and rehabilitation of UCPN-Maoist combatants today dwelt on

the Action Plan presented by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal a few days ago. The peace process got a fresh impetus after the PM came up with a timeline for the integration and rehabilitation and the Unified CPN-Maoist agreed to it in principal.

However, the Nepali Congress and the UCPN-Maoist have expressed reservations on the technical and political aspects of the Action Plan.

According to the timeline presented by the PM, process will be completed by April 30.

However, political pundits say the PM's work plan seems ambitious and it is impossible to complete the task within the stipulated time. They say nowhere in the world has there been such a speedy integration and rehabilitation of the armed forces and claim it will take at least one year to complete the process.

Shambhu Ram Simkhada, a member of the technical committee, formed under the SC said PM's work plan was ambitious and it would be impossible to achieve it technically. However, if political leaders show the will power to complete the process within that timeframe and take bold decisions significant progress can be made during this period, Simkhada added.

He said, "We can complete the most vital tasks during this period and technical tasks can be taken care of later."

It may be mentioned that the Technical Committee has been without any work for

some months.

Since Nepal's peace process is a unique example at the international arena, its political leaders may even show unique character in the integration process, Simkhada hoped, adding, "We are awaiting SC's decision on it."

Government had decided to extend the tenure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal by

four months some days ago with an aim to complete the task of PLA integration.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs today formally sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council requesting it to extend the tenure of UNMIN. According to an official at MoFA, the permanent mission of Nepal at UN will forward the letter to the Security Council tomorrow.