KATHMANDU: Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, a Standing Committee member of the CPN-UML and an expert on foreign affairs, has stressed that Nepal must not compromise under any circumstances regarding its border disputes.
Speaking at an inter-dialogue organized by Press Chautari Nepal in Kathmandu on Monday, discussing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit to China, Dr. Bhattarai said land safeguarded by previous generations must now be firmly protected by the current generation.
“The previous generations gave their lives to protect this land. Today, it is enough to take a firm stance. If we fail to make a united effort, we cannot safeguard the country. This is not a matter of any single individual; it is a shared responsibility of all patriotic citizens,” he said.
Dr. Bhattarai specifically mentioned Nepal’s claims over areas like Lipulekh, asserting that the country must never relinquish its territorial claims. “As patriotic citizens, we cannot give up our claims. Resolving border disputes may take time, but Nepal must not abandon its stance. While disagreements may arise on other national issues, everyone must unite on such matters,” he added.
He criticized the India-China agreement to convert Lipulekh into a trade route, calling it unacceptable to Nepal, and insisted that China must respect Nepal’s concerns. “China cannot sidestep the fact that this land involves Nepal and India; it must support Nepal,” Dr. Bhattarai said.
Highlighting the importance of dialogue, he noted that all problems can be resolved only through discussion. “The path forward is dialogue; problems must be solved through negotiation and diplomacy,” he said.
Dr. Bhattarai reaffirmed that, despite Nepal’s multidimensional relations with India, the country remains steadfast on its border claims. “No one can encroach upon Nepal’s territory,” he said.
He urged political parties, the intellectual community, and civil society to form a shared perspective on issues of national sovereignty and reiterated that Nepal must maintain its stance consistently, even if resolving border disputes takes time.
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