No third-party role in Nepal-India border issue, says Indian foreign ministry

Kathmandu / June 02: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that third parties have no role in resolving border disputes between Nepal and India, stressing that existing bilateral mechanisms remain the appropriate channel for addressing outstanding issues.

At a regular media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both countries were working through established frameworks to resolve boundary matters.

“We have established bilateral mechanisms to resolve border issues,” Jaiswal said. “Whatever bilateral matters exist between India and Nepal, no third party has any role in them.”

The remarks came in response to questions from Indian journalists regarding comments made by Prime Minister Balendra Shah in the House of Representatives on Sunday. Shah had said that discussions on the Lipulekh border issue were also being held with China and the United Kingdom.

“We have spoken not just with India and China, but also with the British government,” Shah told lawmakers. “Since the issues we face today go back to the period when British India left the region, we believe the UK should also be involved. I assure you that these matters will be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic engagement.”

The Prime Minister also said that both countries had, at different times, encroached on each other’s territory.

Reacting to the comments, Jaiswal said New Delhi had taken note of the remarks made by the Prime Minister and Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said around 98 percent of the Nepal-India border has already been demarcated, while some issues remain unresolved.

“There are some issues in certain stretches that are yet to be settled,” he said. “This has happened due to the shifting course of the Gandak (Narayani) River. There are also cases of encroachment in mapped areas and in no-man’s land. Joint efforts are ongoing to address these matters through mapping and verification work.”