Kathmandu- Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has sought to draw a clear line between historical research and international mediation, saying Kathmandu is not seeking third-party involvement in its border dispute with India despite recent remarks by Prime Minister Balendra Shah that triggered a diplomatic exchange between New Delhi and Kathmandu.
Addressing a press conference at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi at the conclusion of his three-day visit to India, Khanal said Nepal’s engagement with the United Kingdom is aimed at accessing historical records linked to the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura dispute and should not be interpreted as an attempt to internationalise the issue.
“We are not asking for mediation,” Khanal said, explaining that Nepal is interested in examining documents that may be housed in British libraries and museums and could help establish historical claims over the disputed territory.
The clarification comes days after Prime Minister Balendra Shah told Nepal’s Parliament that Kathmandu was in contact with both the United Kingdom and China regarding the border issue. The statement sparked debate in Nepal and drew a response from India which reiterated that all outstanding boundary issues between the two neighbours should be resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms.
Seeking to ease concerns in New Delhi, Khanal stressed that Nepal remains committed to resolving the dispute through diplomatic engagement with India.
According to the Foreign Minister, Britain’s relevance stems from its historical role in shaping the boundaries of the region during the colonial era.
“The problems that existed when British India left the region still persist,” Khanal said, arguing that archival material from that period could provide valuable historical context for discussions surrounding the disputed tri-junction.
The dispute regained attention earlier this year after India announced the resumption of the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass, a route that Nepal claims passes through territory belonging to it. Kathmandu subsequently lodged diplomatic protests with both India and China reiterating its claim over the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region.
Khanal confirmed that Nepal had formally communicated its position to both governments.
“We have clearly stated that the land belongs to us. That has been our historical claim,” he said.
Yet even as he reaffirmed Nepal’s territorial position, Khanal repeatedly sought to frame the broader relationship with India in a different light.
Presenting the worldview of Nepal’s new Rastriya Swatantra Party-led government, Khanal said Kathmandu does not want bilateral relations to remain hostage to what he described as the “old baggage” of the past.
Instead, he argued that Nepal’s new leadership wants to shift the focus towards what it calls “development diplomacy” prioritising economic cooperation, connectivity, investment and governance while managing differences through dialogue.
The messaging was particularly significant because it came during Khanal’s first official visit to India as Foreign Minister and follows the rise of a new political leadership in Kathmandu that has promised a break from traditional political practices.
“Our rise is driven by an extraordinary and historic mandate centred on good governance, meritocracy and accountability,” Khanal said, describing himself as part of a “completely new political reality” in Nepal.
His visit also produced tangible outcomes, including the formal operationalisation of peer-to-peer cross-border digital payment systems between Nepal and India, a move expected to boost financial connectivity between the two countries.
While the border issue continues to remain unresolved, Khanal’s remarks suggest the new government is attempting to pursue a dual-track approach firmly maintaining Nepal’s territorial claims while simultaneously expanding cooperation with India in areas of shared economic interest.
For New Delhi, the most important takeaway from the visit may have been Khanal’s effort to dispel the notion that Kathmandu is seeking external intervention in a bilateral dispute. For Kathmandu, the challenge now will be convincing both domestic audiences and India that it can protect Nepal’s territorial interests while pursuing a more pragmatic and development-focused relationship with its largest neighbour.
