Bad weather forced Indian helicopter into Nepali territory: Nepal's Foreign Minister
Kathmandu, July 2
Nepal's Foreign Minister, Shishir Khanal, has clarified that the Indian helicopter intercepted in Nepal's airspace in the western border district of Darchula on June 10 had entered Nepali territory due to adverse weather conditions.
Responding to lawmakers' oral questions related to his ministry during Wednesday's meeting of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, Minister Khanal said that the Nepali government had received information indicating that the Indian helicopter had entered Darchula district after encountering bad weather conditions.
"Based on the information received from the concerned authorities, it does not appear that the Indian helicopter entered Nepali territory intentionally or with any ill motive," he said.
"Due to the geographical conditions of the area and the weather situation, the helicopter entered Nepali territory, and necessary coordination and communication are taking place between the relevant Nepali authorities and the Indian side regarding the matter."
According to Nepali officials, Nepal's sovereign airspace was breached when an Indian military helicopter flew deep into Nepali territory without permission on June 10. The helicopter later returned to the Indian side after a brief stay in Nepal's airspace.
"We confirmed a breach of our airspace after locals in the Chhangru area of Darchula captured video footage of the Indian military helicopter," Anil Poudel, Chief District Officer of Darchula, told IANS. "We then lodged a strong protest with the District Magistrate in Pithoragarh, India, while seeking clarification on why our airspace was violated without prior communication."
According to Poudel, the Indian side informed his office that it had already notified the relevant authorities in Nepal and assured that such an airspace violation would not occur again.
India maintains a military presence in the disputed Kalapani region on the outskirts of Darchula district, a territory claimed by both Nepal and India. The two countries have longstanding border disputes over the Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura regions, which have remained one of the key irritants in bilateral relations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Glad to see diplomacy prevailing here. The Nepali Foreign Minister's comments reflect maturity in handling a potential flashpoint. However, I hope India also officially acknowledges the incident properly and thanks Nepal for understanding the situation. Good example of bilateral cooperation!
Seems like a genuine mistake due to weather. But why did they not inform Nepal in advance? Even if weather forced them, basic communication protocol should have been followed. The Indian military needs to be more careful, especially in sensitive border areas where trust is already fragile.
The real issue here isn't this helicopter incident - it's the ongoing Kalapani dispute that creates such tensions in the first place. When you have troops stationed in disputed territory, every small incident gets magnified. Both countries need to resolve border issues permanently through dialogue.
Good to see diplomatic maturity from Nepal in handling this. The Foreign Minister's statement shows they understand practical realities of Himalayan flying conditions. Hopefully both sides use this as an opportunity to strengthen communication protocols rather than escalate tensions unnecessarily.
While I appreciate the Nepali minister's understanding, we should remember that Kalapani region remains illegally occupied by India. This helicopter entering Nepali airspace is another reminder of Indian military presence in our territory. We need stronger action to reclaim our land, not just statements about weather.
M