Nepal PM Claims India and Nepal Have Encroached Border Areas
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has raised concerns of mutual encroachment along the India-Nepal border, stating that both nations must work together diplomatically to resolve territorial disputes. These disagreements encompass areas like Kalapani and Lipulekh and have led to ongoing diplomatic efforts with third parties such as Britain and China.
Highlights
- •Nepalese PM Balendra Shah claims mutual encroachment in border territories
- •Diplomatic negotiations ongoing with India and third-party involvement
- •Disputes over Kalapani, Lipulekh areas have escalated bilateral tensions
- •Need for historical study to resolve disputes through friendship
The Nepalese Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, has sparked controversy by recently stating that both Nepal and India have encroached on border territories belonging to each other. During a recent speech in the Nepalese Parliament, Shah reported that diplomatic discussions with Britain and China are ongoing regarding the India-Nepal border issue.
Shah highlighted that Kathmandu has sent official diplomatic notes to New Delhi, specifically mentioning issues of encroachment, including areas like Lipulekh. He added that both nations have agreed to address these concerns through multilateral negotiations with historians and experts by sitting together diplomatically. The Prime Minister stated: 'You will be surprised to know about a fact which I learned only recently after becoming Prime Minister – India has not only encroached on Nepalese territories, but Nepal has also encroached on Indian land in many places. Both countries need to study these facts and sit together as friends to resolve the issue.'
Further Diplomatic Movements
The controversy centers around certain areas like Kalapani and Lipulekh, which were claimed by Kathmandu under a 1816 Anglo-Nepal Treaty. Six years ago, Nepal issued a new map including these lands as part of its territory. The current dispute emerged when India rejected Nepalese territorial claims over the Lipulekh pass for conducting religious pilgrimages.
Shah's statements come after previous disagreements between New Delhi and Kathmandu. In 2022, India had explicitly stated that any unilateral actions by Nepal would not change the ground reality despite opposition from Kathmandu. The issue remains unresolved, with both countries needing to find a mutually acceptable resolution.
This development
