Kathmandu, Sep 5 - Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood Saturday regretted that religion - which brings the people of India and Nepal together - was under fire on the ground of nationality. He was reacting to the assault on two Indian priests at the famed Pashupatinath temple here.

'God doesn't belong to any country. Religion and nationality should be kept separate. There are Hindus all over the world,' said Sood, who offered prayers at the shrine jointly with Nepal's Culture Minister Minendra Rijal in a show of bilateral amity.

The Indian envoy said he had conveyed the concern of his government to Nepal.

'Perhaps the protesters are not fully aware of the traditions of Pashupatinath and Hinduism,' Sood said.