Making an emotional speech at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit on Tuesday, Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala pointed out that he had gambled his 60 years of political career to bring peace to the Himalayan country.

"I have gambled 60 years of my political career. Now the situation has calmed down and they (Maoists) have come within the democratic framework," he said at the inaugural session of the 14th SAARC summit in New Delhi.

Koirala recalled how he strongly felt the need for a dialogue with the Maoist rebels to end the decade-long armed conflict.

"I wanted to have a dialogue with the Maoists but was told by many that terrorists are not to be believed," he said.

Koirala said that being a democrat he could not be merely a silent spectator.

"I thought, if I fail, the nation should not fail as it would be my personal loss. I gambled 60 years of my political career," he said, adding, "We have managed to bring the Maoists to the mainstream. A new chapter is going on in Nepal."    

Noting that a new government has been formed in Nepal, which includes the Maoists, Koirala said the constituent assembly elections will soon be held in the Himalayan country.

He described the inclusion of Afghanistan into SAARC and presence of international observers at the summit meeting as two major milestones in the history of the regional grouping.

The Nepal prime minister observed that SAARC should focus on poverty alleviation and exploit the region's resources to achieve the objective.