Nepal seeks India border talks based on historical maps and agreements

Summary

Nepal is ready to resolve its border issue with India through diplomatic dialogue on the basis of historical agreements and maps, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said on Wednesday. Replying to questions from lawmakers in the Upper House, Khanal said Kathmandu wanted to address the matter while abiding by "the spirit and sentiments of close relations existing between Nepal and India". "The Nepal government is always ready to resolve the border issue (with India) through diplomatic dialogue on the basis of the historical agreement and map abiding by the spirit and sentiments of close relations existing between Nepal and India," Khanal said. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said the prime minister was referring to cross-border occupation by people from both sides of the border. On the Susta border issue, Khanal said, "Mechanisms have already been set up and actively working at various border areas of Nepal and India." He added, "Any work being carried out in and around the intentional border is being done through coordination between the two sides." Referring to the construction of a 132-metre embankment in the Susta area in southern Nepal, he said the work had moved ahead only after coordination between officials of the two countries. Nepal and India have a long-running boundary dispute over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, with both sides laying claim to the areas. India has maintained that these territories are part of Uttarakhand and has said the issue should be addressed through bilateral dialogue. Earlier, on June 10, Khanal had told Parliament that a joint working group would deal with the issue of cross-border occupation between Nepal and India, as he sought to clarify Shah's remarks. He had also said that the next meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Working Group on Border Management would be held in India in August. Khanal's statement on Wednesday underlined Nepal's position that border issues with India should be handled through bilateral diplomatic channels, including existing mechanisms and coordination on the ground, while the two countries continue to engage on longstanding disputed areas.