New Delhi, June 3: India on Tuesday firmly rejected any third party involvement in resolving its border dispute with Nepal, reaffirming that all outstanding boundary issues should be addressed through existing bilateral mechanisms.
The response came days after Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah suggested the involvement of China and the United Kingdom in discussions related to the long standing border dispute.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and Nepal have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters.
He stated that there is no role for any third party in a bilateral issue between India and Nepal.
Jaiswal said nearly 98 per cent of the India Nepal boundary has already been demarcated. He noted that some unresolved segments remain due to changes in the course of the Gandak River.
He added that instances of cross border occupation and encroachment on No Man’s Land in demarcated areas are currently being jointly mapped by both countries.
The remarks followed comments made by Balendra Shah in the Nepal Parliament on Sunday. Shah said Nepal was engaging not only with India but also with China and Britain regarding the border issue.
He argued that Britain should be involved because the dispute originated during the period of British India.
India and Nepal have a long standing boundary dispute over the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani regions. India has consistently maintained that these territories are part of Uttarakhand.
In his address, Shah also acknowledged that Nepal had encroached on certain Indian territories.
The latest exchange highlights continuing differences over the boundary issue, although both countries maintain established diplomatic channels to address outstanding concerns.
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