Just saw this news about India-Nepal border issue and some comments from Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah are creating lot of confusion . India has given a very firm response.
And tbh,India's stand is very clear. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi that there is no role for any third party in these bilateral matters . He basically told everyone else to stay out of it.
Jaiswal also clarified that nearly 98% of boundary between India and Nepal is already demarcated . So we are talking about only few unresolved sections,not whole border ah.
Apparently,some of these issues are because of shifting of Gandak River which has led to cross-border occupation and encroachment in no-man's land . These things happen,and he said India and Nepal have proper bilateral mechanisms to sort it out.
But the whole thing got stirred up because of what Nepal PM Balendra Shah said . He claimed that Nepal has encroached upon Indian territory,which is a very strange thing for a PM to say about his own country . He was responding to lawmakers who were questioning him about India's alleged encroachment in Limpiyadhura,Lipulekh,and Kalapani.
And this is where things get really weird.
Few things standing out clearly in this case:
- India says 98% of the boundary is already agreed upon.
- Nepal PM's own remarks raise questions about their claims of Indian encroachment.
- Both sides have bilateral mechanisms in place to fix these issues.
His comments have obviously sparked criticism inside Nepal also . Political factions and border analysts there are saying this kind of statement undermines their own country's position on territorial disputes .
Later,the Nepali government gave clarification,saying Shah's comments were about technical studies where citizens of both countries have historically occupied land that technically belongs to other side . But damage was already done.
And then Shah also mentioned diplomatic discussions with China and United Kingdom about border issue . This is new thing and marks a notable shift in their approach . At same time,MEA spokesperson also talked about visit of Rabi Lamichhane,president of Nepal's National Independent Party,to India to strengthen ties.
So many mixed signals coming from same place . On one hand trying to strengthen ties,on other hand making such confusing statements and trying to bring in other countries… it just feels very messy rn.
