Pardafas Reporter
Embassy of India in Kathmandu has said that the ongoing issues about disputed land territory between two countries in the far-western hilly area of Nepal should be addressed through talks.
The embassy issuing a press release on Saturday said, “the established inter-governmental mechanisms and channels are most appropriate for communication and dialogue. Mutually agreed boundary issues that are outstanding can always be addressed in the spirit of our close and friendly bilateral relations.”
A fresh debate has aroused inside the country after India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago in a public function claimed of building roads at disputed Lipulekh area, now administrated by the state of Uttarakhand in India. This statement made ripples in Nepal’s politics as many leaders demanded government’s reaction to Modi’s statement.
Some of the national parity including those in incumbent government and some senior leaders issued statement asking government to make formal position regarding the disputed territory.
On 20 May, 2020, former PM KP Oli led government issued a new map of Nepal including additional 335 square kilometers of land area in the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani which are under administration of India government. The government claimed that the land belonged to Nepal and India had unlawfully encroached the land.
Givernment of India, however, has time and again said that the land belonged to them and offered support to resolve any disputes through dialogues.
“The Government of India’s position on the India-Nepal boundary is well known, consistent and unambiguous. It has been communicated to the Government of Nepal,” reads the press release issued yesterday by the embassy.
