UNMIN mandate extended by another four months

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has extended the mandate of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) by another four months, Wednesday. 

With the latest extension UNMIN will remain  in Nepal till September 15. Its current mandate is ending Friday. This is the sixth time UNMIN's term has been extended. The government of Nepal had written to the UNSC last week to extend the current mandate of UNMIN. 

A meeting of the UNSC at New York, Wednesday, voted unanimously for UNMIN's term extension. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had endorsed extending the mandate of UNMIN. 

While extending the mandate, UNSC also called on Nepal government to work with Maoist combatants "to agree and implement a timetabled action plan with clear benchmarks for the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel."

Some of the members of UNSC also called Nepal to start working on UNMIN's exit plan. A resolution drafted by Britain calls on Nepal to "immediately begin to make the necessary arrangements for its (UNMIN's) withdrawal."

There is a controversy in Nepal over whether UNMIN should stay on or leave and on its jurisdiction. 

Some of the right wing parties are not happy about UNMIN monitoring the Nepal Army. They had asked the Prime Minister to amend the mandate while extending this time, however, PM Nepal refused their in the fear of further aggravating the already angry Maoists.