New Delhi, June 2: India has issued a strong response to comments made by Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, regarding border issues. The Indian government clarified that there is no room for a third party in matters between India and Nepal. All border-related issues will be resolved through bilateral dialogue and established mechanisms.
During a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has taken note of Prime Minister Shah’s remarks concerning the India-Nepal boundary.
Jaiswal remarked, “We have observed the statements made by the Prime Minister of Nepal regarding the India-Nepal boundary, as well as the subsequent statement from the Nepali Foreign Ministry. While approximately 98% of the boundary has been settled, some areas remain unresolved due to changes in the course of the Gandak River.”
He added, “There are also issues regarding encroachments on no man’s land along the defined sections of the border, which are currently being mapped. It should be clear to all concerned that there is no role for a third party in bilateral matters between India and Nepal.”
This response from the Foreign Ministry followed Shah’s claims on Sunday that Nepal has occupied Indian territory. However, Shah did not specify where Nepal allegedly encroached upon Indian land.
While addressing local lawmakers who questioned him about the disputed areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, Prime Minister Shah stated, “Since becoming Prime Minister, I have learned that not only has India occupied land in Nepal, but Nepal has also encroached upon Indian territory in several places. Both sides should sit down to address this issue.”
Shah also mentioned that Nepal has engaged in diplomatic discussions with China and Britain regarding the border dispute with India. This marked a significant moment as it was the first time Nepal openly acknowledged talks with Britain concerning the Nepal-India border issue.
Shah stated, “We have spoken not only with India and China but also with the British government. We believe that Britain should also take an interest in this matter, as it dates back to the time when India was under British control.”
Following Shah’s comments, opposition parties in Nepal, foreign affairs experts, and border analysts criticized the statements. They argued that such remarks could weaken Nepal’s longstanding position on the border dispute with India and diminish its stance in future negotiations.
The Nepali government released a statement on Sunday clarifying that the Prime Minister’s comments were related to technical studies in border areas, where citizens of one country are using or occupying land that technically belongs to another country. The issue raised in Parliament primarily concerned encroachments in no man’s land and cross-border occupations.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry explained that due to the “fixed boundary principle” adopted in riverine areas, certain situations have arisen where Nepali citizens technically farm or reside on land that belongs to India, while Indian citizens utilize land that falls within Nepal’s territory.
Nepal and India share a long and open border, largely defined by the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. However, mapping in areas like Susta and Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh-Kalapani remains incomplete.
During the media briefing in New Delhi, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson also discussed the ongoing visit of Rabi Lamichhane, chief of Nepal’s National Independent Party (RSP), to India.
He noted that there are close ties between the people of both countries, as well as connections between political parties on both sides, and these interactions continue.
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