Nepal-India Border Dispute: PM Balen Shah Engages UK in Diplomatic Talks

Kathmandu. A new turn has come in the border dispute between Nepal-India. Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah has introduced a new issue regarding the border areas of Lipulek, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura etc. between Nepal-India.

Responding to a question asked by a member of parliament in the House of Representatives meeting on Sunday, he informed that the border dispute of Lipulek, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura etc. will be resolved through diplomatic dialogue and for that, the Nepal government is also in conversation with England (Britain).

Prime Minister Balen said, 'Regarding the issue of Lipulek and Limpiyadhura, the Nepal government has officially sent a diplomatic note to the Indian government and a reply has also been received. Both governments have agreed to resolve this through table talks by keeping their historians and surveyors. Since the problem of the British India's departure remains till now, we have also talked with the English government regarding this. This will be resolved through diplomatic means.'

This has further complicated the resolution of the Nepal-India border dispute, said Dr. Nihar Nayak (India), an expert on Nepal-India border and security affairs. 'Nepal should not look at India with the perspective of 1947, but with the perspective of 2026,' he said. 'If Britain is involved in the Nepal-India border dispute, it will never be resolved. If the Nepal government desires so, it is confirmed that it does not want to resolve the border dispute.'

पहिलो पटक संसद्‌मा बोल्दा विवादमा तानिए बालेन

India became independent after the end of British rule in 1947. At that time, the border determined by the Treaty of Sugauli was considered the international border between Nepal and India. Independent India has continued the border line determined by British India. It can be understood that the Nepal government is seeking information based on that to talk with Britain.

The Treaty of Sugauli of 1816 is still considered the main basis for the Nepal-India border today. This treaty was made between Nepal and the East India Company under British rule. Experts say that Prime Minister Balen's statement clarifies that the Nepal government is trying to find out the basis of how the Nepal-India border was left when Britain left India.

Former Ambassador and foreign affairs expert Vijaykant Karna also said that Prime Minister Balen expressed a wrong opinion in the parliament. He clarified that the dispute between Nepal-India will never be resolved by what was said in the parliament today.

Former Ambassador Karna said that involving a third country in the dispute between two countries would be a very serious matter. This will not only spoil relations with India, but also with Britain.

'There has been a border dispute between India and Pakistan for years, and even when America has repeatedly offered to mediate, India has not agreed, so it will not agree to involve Britain in the border dispute with Nepal under any circumstances,' he said.

Former Ambassador Karna said, 'The opinion expressed by Prime Minister Balen in the parliament today is undiplomatic. It has further worsened the relations between the two countries.'

In case of border disputes, various parties, especially leaders of the Communist Party, have raised the issue of the Sugauli Treaty before. It has been raised in the parliament from time to time that the Nepal-India border should be established according to the Sugauli Treaty. However, this is the first time that the issue has been raised in the parliament by the Prime Minister.