Nepal PM Balendra Shah Claims His Country Has Occupied Indian Land; Creates Ripples In Delhi

New Delhi: On Sunday, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah made a controversial statement in Parliament regarding the border shared with India. He asserted that just as India has encroached upon Nepali territory, Nepal, too, has encroached upon Indian territory in several places. According to a report by 'The Kathmandu Post', the Nepali Prime Minister gave assurances that the border disputes concerning Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

Responding to a question raised in Parliament by Aren Rai, an MP from the Shram Sanskriti Party, Balendra Shah stated, "After becoming Prime Minister, I realized that not only has India encroached upon Nepali land, but Nepal has also encroached upon Indian land in several areas. Both sides need to sit together and deliberate on this matter."

Furthermore, Padma Aryal—Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader of the Communist Party of Nepal—raised a question regarding the trade conducted between India and China via the Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura routes. Responding to this, PM Shah reiterated that a resolution to the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani disputes would be found through diplomatic negotiations. Shah noted that Nepal has already sent an official diplomatic note to India in this regard and has also received a response.

Has Nepal Raised the Issue with Britain?

Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated, "The response received from India indicates that both governments will form teams—comprising historians, surveyors, and regional experts—to seek a resolution through dialogue." The Nepali Prime Minister also mentioned that Nepal has held diplomatic discussions regarding this border dispute with both China and Britain, as the issue dates back to the era when the British departed from the region. Therefore, Britain, too, should take an interest in this matter. He affirmed that his government would raise this issue with Britain.

What is the Nature of the India-Nepal Border Dispute?

The territorial dispute between India and Nepal—specifically concerning the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani regions—is rooted in the Treaty of Sugauli, signed in 1816. Nepal claims that, by recognizing the Mahakali River (Kalapani) as the boundary line, the Lipulekh Pass, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani fall within its territory. In 2020, Nepal issued a new political map asserting its claim over these regions.

Nepal argues that, based on old maps from the British era and the river's point of origin, these areas belong to Nepal. However, these areas constitute part of the Pithoragarh district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. India counters that it has maintained a border outpost in this location since the 1950s and that the region holds strategic significance, particularly since 1962. The Lipulekh Pass serves as a strategic route leading to Tibet, along which India has constructed a road. Several rounds of talks have been held between the two nations regarding this issue, yet no permanent resolution has been reached.