India – Nepal Disputes

Indo – Nepal

The inauguration of a 75 Km road by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appears to have soured Indo-Nepal relations. The road, which will shorten the time taken to reach Kailash Mansarovar, has resulted in a public and diplomatic protest by the Nepal Government, a new map released by Nepal.

Key points :

1- Nepal claims that the Lipulekh pass, Kalapani and Limpadhura, areas through which the newly inaugurated road passes, fall in Nepali territory.

2- India’s position is that road falls in the district of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and in the Dharchula subdivision headquarters at the tri-junction of the Tibet and Nepal border at Lipulekh pass, where one crosses over to Tibet. 

3- India has also asked Nepal to return to dialogue.

4- Nepal had also expressed displeasure on the 2015 agreement between India and China for using the Lipulekh pass for trade, without consulting Nepal.

Border Dispute :

* The genesis of the dispute lies in the interpretation of the Sugauli treaty of 1816 between the East India Company and the King of Nepal. 

* The Western boundary of Nepal was fixed as the eastern bank of the Kali river.

* The present point of contention is differing interpretation on the watershed of the Kali river.

*  India claims Kali river begins after all the tributaries meet to the east of Lipulekh, whereas Nepal contends that the river originates in Limpiadhura to the west of Lipulekh.

Delimitation  of  a  boundary  in  a  treaty  is  a  crucial first  step  in  boundary-making,  but  on  its  own  delimitation  is  of  limited  value. 

India perceives Nepal to be tilting towards China under the leadership of Prime Minister K P Oli and his Nepal Communist Party.

Conclusion :

*  The free movement of people is permitted across the border, Nepal enjoys immense strategic relevance from India’s national security point of view, as terrorists often use Nepal to enter India. Therefore friendly relations are to be established. 

* Any thoughtless erosion of this centuries old togetherness may prove difficult for both countries.

* India and Nepal should try to resolve the boundary dispute by taking into account all shared environmental characteristics. As existing bilateral treaties between India and Nepal have not taken the shifting of Himalayan rivers into consideration.

-Rupal