Kathmandu: India is ready to help Nepal solve the Maoist problem and has asked the rebels to lay down their arms.

"India is ready to help to solve the Maoist problem. Being a close neighbour, the terrorist activities in Nepal also do have direct impact in India," Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shyam Sharan told reporters in Rajbiraj in Saptari district in Terai.

He also called the Maoists to lay down arms and strive for power through legitimate means.

India is providing assistance to build long-term projects to benefit people of Nepal keeping in mind that social and economic development leads to automatic downfall of terrorism, Indian Embassy sources quoted Sharan as saying.

PTI