By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 9: The Indian government has stated that the recently inaugurated road section in Pithoragarh district in the State of Uttarakhand lied completely within the territory of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs, India said so by issuing an 'Official Spokesperson's response to media queries on inauguration of road on 8th May in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.'

The MEA's statement came with regard to the press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) earlier today regarding construction and so called inauguration of 'link road' that passes through Nepal's Lipu Lekh by India.

The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Under the present project, the same road has been made pliable for the ease and convenience of pilgrims, locals and traders, the MEA spokesperson said in the response.

Stating that India and Nepal had established a mechanism to deal with all boundary matters, the Indian government said, "The boundary delineation exercise with Nepal is ongoing. India is committed to resolving outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue and in the spirit of our close and friendly bilateral relations with Nepal." 

"Both sides are also in the process of scheduling Foreign Secretary level talks which will be held once the dates are finalised between the two sides after the two societies and governments have successfully dealt with the challenge of COVID 19 emergency," read the response.

The MEA spokesperson's response, however, stayed silent, among other things, about understanding reached at the Prime Ministerial level of the two countries on  seeking a' solution to boundary issues through negotiation' and also on the question whether India was ready to receive the report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations.

Issuing a statement earlier today, the Government of Nepal has objected to the construction of link road that passes through Nepal's Lipu Lekh. "The Government of Nepal has consistently maintained that as per the Sugauli Treaty (1816), all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal. This was reiterated by the Government of Nepal several times in the past and most recently through a diplomatic note addressed to the Government of India dated 20 November 2019 in response to the new political map issued by the latter".