Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah’s statement that both India and Nepal have encroached on each other’s territory has triggered a political storm in Kathmandu, reigniting debate over the long-standing border dispute between the two neighboring countries.
Speaking in Parliament on Sunday, Shah said that the border issue involving Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani remains a sensitive matter in Nepal-India relations. He urged both countries to rely on historians, surveyors, and experts to study the facts and work toward a peaceful resolution.
PM Balen Shah Calls for Dialogue
Addressing lawmakers during his first parliamentary speech since taking office earlier this year, Shah said he had learned after becoming Prime Minister that territorial concerns exist on both sides of the border.
“You may be surprised to know that India has not only encroached on Nepali territory, but Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory in several places,” Shah said.
He stressed that Nepal and India should approach the matter as friendly neighbors, examine historical and geographical evidence, and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. Shah also noted that Nepal has discussed aspects of the dispute with China and the United Kingdom due to historical considerations linked to the region.
Foreign Ministry Issues Clarification
Following the controversy, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a clarification, stating that the Prime Minister’s comments referred to cross-border occupation and no-man’s land areas rather than official territorial claims.
According to the ministry, land used by communities on one side of the border may, in some cases, fall within the territory of the neighboring country. Officials added that technical teams from both nations continue to work on boundary pillar maintenance, border surveys, and data collection related to disputed areas and long-standing cross-border occupation.
Opposition Demands Explanation
Shah’s remarks quickly drew criticism from opposition leaders and political figures in Nepal.
Several lawmakers questioned the Prime Minister’s claim and demanded evidence to support the statement. Some opposition members called for the remarks to be removed from the parliamentary record, while others urged Shah to withdraw his comments.
Former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali reportedly sought an apology, arguing that the statement lacked factual backing.
Experts and Former Diplomats Push Back
Border experts and former diplomats also challenged the Prime Minister’s assertion.
The news sparked fresh debate among policy experts and former officials, many of whom questioned the basis of the Prime Minister’s remarks and called for greater clarity on the issue.
Geographer and Nepal-India border expert Buddhi Narayan Shrestha said Nepal has never officially encroached on Indian territory. He explained that in certain border regions, farmers from both countries have historically used land across the boundary due to missing or damaged border pillars.
Former Nepalese Ambassador to India Nilambara Acharya similarly stated that there is no official record of Nepal occupying Indian territory and noted that most border-related issues between the two countries have already been resolved.
Another former ambassador, Deep Kumar Upadhyay, said India has never formally raised such concerns in bilateral discussions, adding that the context of the Prime Minister’s statement remains unclear.
Kailash Mansarovar Route Dispute Adds Tension
The controversy comes weeks after Nepal formally objected to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route through Lipulekh and sent diplomatic notes to both India and China.
Nepal maintains that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani are integral parts of its territory under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India has rejected these claims, describing them as unilateral and maintaining that the disputed areas belong to Uttarakhand.
Background of the Border Dispute
India and Nepal have long disagreed over the ownership of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, strategic areas located near the India-China-Nepal tri-junction.
The dispute intensified in 2021 when Nepal released a revised political map that included all three territories within its borders. India rejected the move, calling it a unilateral cartographic assertion and reiterating that the matter should be resolved through bilateral dialogue.
Despite periodic tensions, both countries have continued diplomatic engagement while seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the boundary dispute.