KATHMANDU: Former Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers have suggested to the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resolve border disputes through diplomatic channels.
Speaking at an all-side meeting called by PM Oli at Baluwatar today to develop a common voice on border issues, they asked the Prime Minister to devise diplomatic efforts to immediately resolve the border disputes with India.
The border dispute was escalating after Indian side unilaterally unveiled a political map by placing Nepali territory in its boundary.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said they suggested to PM Oli to hold talks with the Indian Prime Minister to resolve the issue.
Dr. Bhattarai said he asked PM Oli to form a political committee under the PM leadership to hold discussions with the Indian government.
He also said all political parties should make a common voice on border issues and other national issues.
The then chairman of Interim Council of Ministers Khilraj Regmi also seconded Dr. Bhattarai’s views, suggesting to form a political and technical commission to hold discussions with Indian sides over the issues.
Likewise, former foreign Minister Kamal Thapa opined that all sides should stand together to protest such a move of encroachment. “Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura are Nepali territories,” said Thapa.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani suggested to the government to take diplomatic initiatives to safeguard the country’s territories based on facts and evidence. He also called for all parties to come together on the issue of nationality and the government to take concrete initiatives in this regard.
The meeting was also attended by Nepal Communist Party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokharel and NCP leader Bhim Bahadur Rawal.
Similarly, President of main opposition Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, coordinator of the presidium of Rastriya Janata Party Mahanta Thakur, Chairperson of the then Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi, former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and former Ministers for Foreign Affairs Ramesh Nath Pandey and Kamal Thapa.
At the beginning of the meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said the placement of Nepali territories in India’s new map has dashed the sentiments of the Nepali people. Clarifying the purpose of calling the meeting, he stressed the need for making a common view on issues including border one.
On the issue of the placement of Nepal’s territories, Kalapani, Lipulek Pass and Limbiyadhura, in India’s new political map, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal through a statement on November 6 clarified that Kalapani is Nepal’s territory.
Comment