KATHMANDU: The government is set to immediately take the diplomatic initiative to resolve disputes on the Nepal-India border, including Kalapani.
The government would initiate efforts acting on the unprecedented national consensus on nationality, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Addressing an all-side meeting attended by all the political parties representing federal parliament, former Prime Ministers, foreign ministers and theme experts, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said a wider national consensus was forged in strengthening government voice for resolving border disputes.
The government would initiate effective diplomatic dialogue with Indian government being based on the strong foundation of national consensus and unity, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali quoted Prime Minister as saying.
Prime Minister Oli also thanked all the attendees of the meeting for their strong support on the government’s move on the issues.
PM Oli also expressed confidence that such issues could be resolved through dialogue as the government has the motif to strengthen friendly relations with India.
Similarly, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali shared that the government would hold internal discussions on the basis of the conclusion of the all-party meeting.
He further said that the issue could be also discussed through the foreign secretary-level mechanism and the joint commission led by the foreign ministries.
The government will take an appropriate decision where the issue could be discussed, he said. Prime Minister also could hold discussions with his Indian counterpart if required, Gyawali added.
The meeting has urged all to restrain tolerance adding that the people’s unswerving stance towards nationalism and national interest was appreciable.
All parties have shared common views on nationality and border security despite differences among parties on political issues, he said. Main opposition Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba stated that there was no dispute on Kalapani being the land of Nepal.
“There is no doubt that Kalapani is Nepal’s territory”, asserted Deuba, also the former Prime Minister.
This problem should be resolved through diplomatic efforts, he said, urging the government to initiate initiatives to hold dialogue to resolve the issue.
“The areas including Kalapani and the eastern territory across the Mahakali River where Indian security force has set up their office also belong to Nepal. Nepal’s government should give high priority and devise diplomatic efforts to take back Nepal’s lost territories,” he said.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramesh Nath Pandey told media-persons that he suggested to the government taking concrete initiatives in resolving the matter through a high-level political mechanism.
This is a great opportunity to resolve border issues including Kalapani in the context both Nepal and India have governments with a two-thirds majority, he added.
Comment