Kathmandu, May 11
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has
handed over a 'diplomatic note' to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan
Kwatra expressing Nepal's position on boundary issues especially in the Kalapani
area.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar
Gyawali summoned Ambassador Kwatra at his office at the Singha Durbar on Monday
morning to convey Nepal's position on boundary issues, according to a tweet of
the MoFA.
The 'diplomatic note' follows the objection
of the government on Indian road project from Pithoragarh of Uttara Khand to
Chinese border Lipulek. Border Roads Organisation of India has built an 80-km
road to connect the strategic pass in the name of facilitating the pilgrims to
reach Mount Kailash, a holy mountain in Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
The MoFA in its statement on Saturday reiterated
that the Kalapani region (about 400 square km), including Limpiyadhura and
Lipulek east of the Kali River, are Nepal's territory as per the Sugauli Treaty
of 1816.
It also regretted the unilateral act of the
southern neighbour saying that it was against the understanding reached between
the two countries including at the level of prime ministers that a solution to
boundary issues would be sought through negotiation.
Nepal had also reminded the fact to India
in 20 November 2019 as the latter kept Nepal's Kalapani area in its territory
in a map published then.
Meanwhile, FM Gyawali said at the Federal
Parliament's International Relations Committee later in the afternoon that
Nepal wanted an immediate dialogue with India on the border issues although the
southern neighbour was evading the proposal saying that it could be held after
the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control.
"But we cannot wait for any longer, we
want to resolve the issues at the earliest," he said.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs had
claimed that the road was built in its own territory and proposed a dialogue
with Nepal after the pandemic is over.
He updated the lawmakers that the
government was calling on India for a dialogue on the issue since last
November.
He also said that Nepal would also discuss
the border issues with China after the conclusive dialogue with India.
According to him, Nepal should first resolve the border issue with India and
talk to China to locate the trilateral juncture.
India and China in 2015 had agreed to
develop Lipulek – a Nepal-China border point – as a bilateral trade route.
Nepal shares 1690 km long border with India
and 1414 km with China.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 May 2020.
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