Kathmandu, Feb 3 : Former United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin has asked the political parties not to make the recruitments in Nepal Army a matter of contention.

Speaking at the Reporters'' Club here on Monday, Martin said the parties and the government must abide by the peace agreement and resolve their differences through dialogue.

"Nepal's peace process has many challenges ahead and they would augment further if parties fail to settle them amicably," he added.

He expressed hope that the army integration and the rehabilitation process would be done in the next six months when UNMIN ends its mission in Nepal.

Martin, who been saying that the new recruitment in Nepal Army is a violation of the peace agreement, also objected to the statement by the Maoist People''s Liberation Army chief Nanda Kishor Pun that they would increase the size of PLA to 32,000.

He said challenges in peace process would increase if the parties fail live up to their commitments in implementing the peace agreement.

According to Nepalnews, Martin also stressed that the parties need to be serious on issues of involuntary disappearances, truth and reconciliation mechanism and rehabilitation of those displaced during the insurgency period. (ANI)