KATHMANDU: Maoist Centre Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, has underscored the increasing significance of declaring Nepal a zone of peace. 

While receiving a memorandum from the citizen-led Zone of Peace Campaign, Dahal emphasized the need to advocate for this proposal to protect national autonomy in the face of a challenging global political environment. 

He described the zone of peace initiative as a vital agenda for the preservation of Nepal’s national integrity, noting that past political climates, particularly during the Panchayat era, led to mixed opinions on the proposal, preventing any party from fully endorsing it.

In light of the current transformed political context, Dahal believes that the zone of peace proposal is becoming increasingly important for safeguarding the country's independence. 

He revealed that discussions are already taking place within the Maoist Centre regarding the potential declaration of Nepal as a zone of peace. 

Dahal expressed his support for open dialogue on the issue and indicated that a clear stance would be developed during the party's upcoming central committee meeting.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of positioning Lumbini as the focal point of the peace zone initiative, viewing grassroots discussions on this topic as a constructive development.