Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government cannot accept any unilateral decision taken by India regarding the border between the two countries. He also asserted the government’s firm position and commitment on border security as per the preamble of the Constitution. Ever since India published a new political map recently, which shows Kalapani area in India, wider concerns have been expressed in Nepal at the public and government levels. The government has already communicated to India that Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulek are in Nepal and the dispute arising out of the new map should be resolved through mutual talks. India responded by saying that the new map had updated only the union territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh and had not made any changes regarding its border with Nepal.

During an interview with this daily, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said that most of Nepal-India border issues have been resolved amicably. It shows that there were some problems, they have been resolved and remaining ones can be resolved through mutual understanding. The doors of possibility are open and this border issue is not going to affect the intimate bond between Nepal and India. Keeping silent will not take us towards the resolution of the problem; in this regard, Nepal is boldly insistent to keep raising Kalapani issue though the intrusion dates back to over half a century. Indian troops were stationed in Kalapani in 1962 and India and China agreed to use Lipulek for trade and transportation of goods as if it was a trilateral border point. Nepal has been raising the border issue throughout, firmly maintaining that Limpiyadhura is the origin of the Mahakali River and the territory to the east of this river is Nepal’s.

Prime Minister Oli has already expressed his bold position saying that not a single inch of national territory will be compromised. But his latest reiteration on Wednesday was addressed to the Supreme Court in response to the order following a writ petition on the border issue. Making his statement through the office of the Attorney General, the Prime Minister said that the government is clear about resolving the remaining border issues through mutual discussion with India on the basis of historical facts and evidences. The Sugauli treaty of 1816 is the solid evidence regarding the border river. He said that one sided decision is not acceptable to us. It is known to all that the government has not stayed silent about the border issue. It has sent a diplomatic note to the Indian government to make corrections in its map.

A cabinet meeting on November 15 this year had formed a committee to make an observation tour of concerned border areas and support the border resolution. The task force has been mandated to prepare and submit its observation report within three months. Regarding border security measures, the Prime Minister said that the government has taken security measures as per the constitutional provision of the duty of maintaining national unity, sovereignty and integrity. In this connection, the government is planning to mobilise the armed police force personnel along the border.