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The ongoing border dispute between India and Nepal has once again come into limelight. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen Shah gave a big statement in the Parliament and said that not only India has encroached on Nepal’s land, but Nepal has also used Indian land at many places. After his statement, a new debate has erupted on the long-running Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura dispute between the two countries.

Balen Shah said that the Nepal government wants to resolve this entire dispute through dialogue and diplomatic means. Not only this, he also said that the British government will also be involved in this matter, because the root of the dispute is to the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. Now the question is arising that what is this whole dispute and why does Nepal repeatedly claim these areas?

What is Balen Shah’s full claim?

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen Shah said in the Parliament that after becoming the Prime Minister, he came to know that not only India, Nepal has also occupied some Indian land. He said that both the countries should sit like friends and investigate the facts and find a solution to the dispute. He also claimed that Nepal has sent an official diplomatic note to India and both the countries have agreed to resolve the dispute with the help of historians, surveyors and experts.

Why did UK’s name come into discussion?

Balen Shah said that Nepal will also talk to the United Kingdom on this issue. The reason for this is the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, which was signed between the British East India Company and Nepal. Nepal believes that on the basis of this treaty, Mahakali river determines the border and according to that, Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura come under Nepal’s share. Therefore, Nepal wants Britain to also take interest in this historical dispute.

What is Sugauli Treaty?

Sugauli Treaty was signed between Nepal and the British East India Company in 1816. Under this agreement, the western border of Nepal was fixed as Mahakali river. This is where the controversy begins, because both the countries have different explanations regarding the actual origin of the Mahakali river. Nepal says that the river originates from Limpiyadhura, hence the areas associated with it belong to Nepal. India claims that the current border is correct as per historical and administrative records.

What is the Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura dispute?

1. Kalapani controversy

Kalapani is a strategic area located near Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. India has been maintaining a security post here since the 1950s. After the India-China war of 1962, this area became more strategically important. Nepal claims that this area falls within its border, because the original source of Mahakali river lies on Nepal’s side.

2. Why is Lipulekh Pass important?

Lipulekh Pass is considered a very important strategic and trade route between India, Nepal and China. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra also takes place through this route. India had constructed a road here, on which Nepal had objected. Nepal says that this area is part of its map.

3. Controversy over Limpiyadhura

Nepal claims that Limpiyadhura is the real origin of the Mahakali river. On this basis, he also strengthens his claim on Kalapani and Lipulekh. India rejects these claims, saying that these areas are part of Uttarakhand and have been under the control of Indian administration for decades.

Why did the controversy increase in 2020?

In 2020, the then KP Sharma Oli government of Nepal had released a new political map. In this map Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura were shown as part of Nepal. After this, Nepal also included these areas in new notes and government documents. India had rejected it, calling it a “one-sided and artificial claim”.

What is India’s stand?

India has consistently said that Nepal’s claims are not based on historical facts and evidence. India says that the border dispute should be resolved only through bilateral talks. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently said that Lipulekh Pass has been the traditional route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954 and this is not a new matter.

Why did former ambassadors of Nepal raise questions?

Former Nepalese ambassadors Nilambar Acharya and Deep Kumar Upadhyay have raised questions on Balen Shah’s statement. He says that there is no official record of occupation of Indian land by Nepal. He said that about 97 percent of the India-Nepal border dispute has already been resolved and talks are on on the remaining issues.

What is the new claim of ‘Cross-Border Occupation’?

Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, defending the Prime Minister’s statement, said that in the technical study, such a situation has been found in some places where the land being used by Nepal has been found towards India and the land being used by India has been found towards Nepal. The ministry called it “Cross-Border Occupation” and said that resolution of such matters is possible only through dialogue.

Why is this whole matter sensitive?

The relations between India and Nepal are very deep culturally, religiously and economically. There is an open border between the two countries and lakhs of people move daily. In such a situation, the issue of border dispute is considered very sensitive politically and strategically. Now everyone’s eyes are fixed on India’s official response. It remains to be seen in what direction the talks between the two countries move forward after Balen Shah’s statement.