KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said Nepal remains committed to resolving border-related disputes with India through diplomatic channels and mutual consultations.
Clarifying Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s recent remarks on border issues during Thursday’s National Assembly meeting, Khanal said Nepal and India share an open border with centuries-old historical ties and are committed to addressing outstanding disputes through dialogue.
He said that border delineation remains pending in areas including Susta, Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, while problems related to cross-border occupation and encroachment of the no-man’s land continue to exist in some locations.
According to the Foreign Minister, the issues raised by the Prime Minister in Parliament were primarily related to encroachment of the Dasgaja area and cases of cross-border occupation.
Khanal said bilateral border mechanisms and technical teams from both countries have been actively working on the scientific management of the long Nepal-India border, including the construction and maintenance of border pillars, documentation of encroachments in the Dasgaja area and the identification of cross-border occupation cases.
He further noted that studies conducted by technical committees have indicated that some land currently being used by Nepal may fall on the Indian side of the border, while certain areas currently under Indian use may lie within Nepal’s territory.
“The Government of Nepal remains firmly committed to resolving these issues through diplomatic negotiations based on historical treaties, agreements and official maps, in line with the spirit of the close relationship between Nepal and India,” Khanal said.
Following the Foreign Minister’s clarification, the obstruction in the National Assembly was lifted, allowing parliamentary proceedings to resume.
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