Prime Minister Balen Shah’s recent statement in the House of Representatives regarding the Nepal–India border has triggered intense political debate both inside and outside Parliament.
Responding to lawmakers’ concerns over the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, the Prime Minister remarked that while India has encroached on Nepal’s land, Nepal has also “encroached on some areas of Indian territory.” His comments immediately drew strong criticism from opposition parties, experts, and former diplomats, who demanded clarification and even removal of the statement from parliamentary records.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as the Prime Minister is set to begin a five-day official visit to India on Monday, during which he is expected to hold high-level political meetings, including with Indian leadership.
During his parliamentary address, PM Shah clarified that Nepal has already sent diplomatic notes to both India and China regarding the disputed territories and has also engaged the United Kingdom on historical aspects of the border issue. He emphasized that Nepal seeks a diplomatic and historical resolution based on treaties such as the 1816 Sugauli Treaty and old British-era maps.
However, his claim that Nepal has also encroached on Indian land has been widely rejected by border experts and former officials. Former diplomats argue that while cross-border land use by farmers exists on both sides, it does not amount to territorial encroachment.
Experts further highlighted that most of the 97% of border issues between Nepal and India have already been resolved, with remaining disputes mainly concentrated in areas such as Kalapani and Susta.
Opposition leaders, including senior politicians and former foreign ministers, urged the Prime Minister to clarify his remarks, calling them diplomatically sensitive and potentially damaging. Some even demanded a formal correction, insisting that Nepal has not occupied Indian territory.
In response to the growing controversy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a clarification, stating that the Prime Minister’s remarks referred to “cross-border occupation and land use patterns” rather than formal territorial claims. The ministry explained that due to shifting river boundaries and historical surveying limitations, land use across the border has overlapped in several areas.
The statement added that Nepal and India continue to address these issues through technical committees and diplomatic channels, and that both countries acknowledge complexities arising from historical border demarcation.
As debate continues, the issue has once again brought Nepal–India border sensitivity into the political spotlight, highlighting the need for careful diplomatic language ahead of high-level international engagements.
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