‘Encroached territory’: Why India-Nepal border dispute is heating up again
Summary
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated in parliament that both India and Nepal have encroached on each other’s border areas, a new position for Nepal. The longstanding border dispute involves the regions of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, and is rooted in historical treaties and unclear maps from the 1800s.Key Facts
- Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah spoke in parliament about mutual border encroachments with India.
- Nepal usually accused India of occupying its territory but now acknowledges possible Nepali encroachment on India.
- The disputed border areas include Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani in western Nepal.
- The conflict traces back to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty between Nepal and British colonial rulers, which did not clearly define the origin of the Kali River, a key border marker.
- Nepal seeks help from the UK to access old British survey maps to support its territorial claims.
- Nepal and India share a largely open 1,800 km border where people don’t need visas to cross.
- The dispute has political, geographic, and historical dimensions, with involvement from neighboring countries like China and past colonial ties to the UK.
- Nepal’s PM Shah took office in March 2024 and previously was Kathmandu’s mayor and a musician.
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