PM’s statement on border related to cross border occupation: Foreign Minister Khanal

Kathmandu / June 10: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has clarified that the statement of Prime Minister Balendra Shah on border is related to cross border occupation.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, Minister Khanal said there were dispute related to cross border occupation at different places along Nepal-India border.

He shared that the government was getting the border area mapped through Nepal-India mechanism to identify actual condition along the border. Comprehensive details about the border will be made public once the mapping is over, he said.

Foreign Minister Khanal said that both sides, Nepal and India, have been claiming the land being used by them as theirs, and that the PM’s statement was meant to reflect this technical reality in the context of cross border occupation.

Mechanisms are mapping to sort out number of cross border occupation. The study of the technical committee has shown that some land currently used by Nepal may fall within India while some land currently used by India may fall within Nepal, said the Minister.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that border dispute needs to be resolved through peaceful ways.

Nepal is committed to settling Nepal-India border dispute through diplomatic channels and dialogue keeping the spirit and essence of close relationship and on the basis of historical treaties, agreements and maps, said Minister Khanal.