Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s recent remarks about Nepal encroaching on Indian territory referred to cross-border occupation and encroachment in the no-man’s land along the India-Nepal border. This statement came after the Prime Minister’s controversial comments during a parliamentary session where he acknowledged encroachment by both countries.
The opposition, foreign affairs experts, and border analysts criticized Prime Minister Shah for his statements, arguing that they undermined Nepal’s consistent stance on the border issue with India. The Nepali government clarified that the Prime Minister’s remarks were based on technical studies in border areas where citizens from one country occupied land technically belonging to the other.
According to the Ministry, Nepal’s official position on disputed border areas like Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani remains unchanged. Both countries are currently working on repairing border pillars, addressing encroachments in the no-man’s land, and documenting cross-border occupation in mapped areas along the frontier.
Nepal and India share a lengthy border defined by the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, but mapping discrepancies exist in certain regions. The unresolved border issue has been a significant challenge in bilateral relations, with Prime Minister Shah’s recent comments sparking demands for clarification on Nepal’s alleged encroachment on Indian land.
