Nepal PM Balendra Shah’s ‘Encroachment’ remarks trigger row

Remarks by Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on the long-standing India-Nepal border issue have sparked political controversy and renewed attention on the territorial dispute between the two neighbouring countries.

Addressing Nepal’s Parliament, Shah said he had recently learned that the border issue was not one-sided and claimed that both India and Nepal may be occupying territories claimed by the other. He called for both countries to examine historical facts and resolve the matter through dialogue and diplomacy.

The comments generated debate within Nepal, with several former diplomats and border experts questioning the Prime Minister’s assertion that Nepal has encroached on Indian territory. Some experts stated that while there are cases of cross-border land usage due to missing or shifting boundary markers, there is no official record of Nepal occupying Indian territory.

The dispute primarily revolves around the Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura regions located near the India-Nepal-China trijunction. Both India and Nepal claim these strategically important areas. India maintains that the territories are part of Uttarakhand, while Nepal argues that they belong within its borders based on its interpretation of the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli signed with British India.

The disagreement intensified in 2020 after India inaugurated a road connecting Lipulekh Pass to the Kailash Mansarovar route. Nepal protested the move and later released a revised political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura within its territory.

Shah also revealed that Nepal has discussed the issue not only with India but also with China and the United Kingdom, arguing that Britain has a historical role because the roots of the dispute date back to the colonial period. His remarks regarding possible UK involvement have also attracted attention and could add a diplomatic dimension to the issue.

Despite recurring tensions, both India and Nepal have repeatedly stated that the border issue should be resolved through bilateral dialogue. Officials from both countries have indicated that historians, surveyors and territorial experts may be involved in future discussions aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution.