International

IIE DIGITAL DESK : ‘India has not only occupied Nepalese land, Nepal has also occupied some Indian territory.’ This explosive statement was made by Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah while addressing Parliament on Sunday. At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized that both countries should now jointly investigate this matter. Balendra’s remarks have naturally sparked controversy.

It was the first time Prime Minister Balendra was delivering a speech in the Nepalese Parliament two months after taking office. According to a report by the Kathmandu Post, in response to a question, he said that after becoming Prime Minister, he learned about the issue of land occupation. Moreover, there has long been a dispute between India and Nepal over the territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. Addressing Parliament on this issue, the Prime Minister stated that the matter would be resolved through diplomatic discussions. Nepal has already sent a diplomatic note to India regarding this issue and has received a response from India.

Balendra, to resolve the problem, both countries will form a joint team. This team will include survey experts as well as individuals familiar with the area. All issues will be addressed through discussion within this framework. Furthermore, he mentioned that discussions have also taken place with China and the British administration on this matter. The Prime Minister stated, “The land issue is not only with India and China; we have also discussed it with the British government. We believe Britain should show interest in this issue because the dispute originated from the time when the British left the region.”

It is noteworthy that the border areas of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani between India and Nepal have long been considered highly sensitive. In June 2020, the Nepalese Parliament approved a new map showing these areas as part of Nepal. In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated, “Nepal’s claim is baseless. India does not recognize this claim under any circumstances.” Following this event, diplomatic tensions also arose between the two countries.