Kathmandu – India on Tuesday responded to remarks made by Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on the Nepal-India border issue, reiterating that unresolved boundary matters should be addressed bilaterally and stating that there is no role for third parties in the dispute.
The response comes days after Shah’s comments in Nepal’s Parliament triggered a political controversy and drew criticism from opposition leaders and former foreign ministers.
Reacting to the issue, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of both the Prime Minister’s remarks and the subsequent clarification issued by Nepal’s Foreign Ministry.
“We have seen the remarks of PM of Nepal concerning India-Nepal boundary as well as the subsequent statement by the Foreign Ministry of Nepal,” MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
India noted that nearly 98 per cent of the India-Nepal boundary has already been demarcated while a few segments remain unresolved.
“While close to 98% of India-Nepal boundary has been demarcated, there are some unresolved segments.
The shifting of the course of Gandak river has resulted in this situation. In addition, there are cases of cross-border occupation and encroachment of no-man’s land in demarcated segments of the boundary which are currently being mapped jointly,” Jaiswal added.
The Indian government also appeared to reject suggestions of external involvement in resolving border issues.
“There is no role for third parties in a bilateral matter between Nepal and India,” the MEA spokesperson stated.
The reference is significant as it comes after Prime Minister Shah recently stated that Nepal approached the United Kingdom.
The controversy began on Sunday when Shah making his first appearance in Parliament since assuming office in March said that Nepal had not only faced encroachment from India but had also encroached on Indian territory in some places.
“It may be surprising to you but after becoming Prime Minister, I recently learned that not only has India encroached on Nepal’s territory but Nepal has also encroached on some areas of India,” Shah told lawmakers.
The statement immediately triggered backlash from opposition parties with several senior leaders questioning the basis of the claim and demanding clarification.
Amid mounting criticism, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement maintaining that Nepal’s position on border disputes remains unchanged and that all outstanding issues with India should be resolved through established diplomatic mechanisms.
The border issue remains one of the most sensitive aspects of Nepal-India relations particularly concerning the areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura which Nepal claims as part of its territory.
