No role for third parties in bilateral matter between India, Nepal, mechanisms in place to deal with boundary matters: MEA
New Delhi, June 2
India on Tuesday said that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal and the two countries have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters.
Responding to queries during the regular media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there are cases of cross-border occupation in demarcated segments of the boundary, which are being mapped jointly.
"We have seen the remarks of the Prime Minister of Nepal concerning India India-Nepal boundary as well as the subsequent statement made by the Nepali foreign office on this matter. While close to 98% of the India-Nepali boundary has been demarcated, there are some unresolved segments. The shifting of the Gandak River has resulted in this. In addition, there are cases of cross-border occupation and encroachment of no man's land in demarcated segments of the boundary, which are currently being mapped jointly," he said.
"We have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters. It should be clear to all concerned that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal," he added.
The Spokesperson was responding to a query about Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah reportedly suggesting that UK and China should be involved in discussions on border issues. The Nepal PM had also said that his country remains committed to resolve boundary issues with India through talks.
Jaiswal further said that issues such as cross-border occupation and encroachment in already demarcated "no-man's land" areas have been identified in some segments, which are currently being jointly mapped and verified by both sides.
Political parties in Nepal have slammed Balendra Shah's controversial remarks about Nepal also "encroaching" Indian territory. Nepal Foreign Ministry had subsequently issued a clarification over his remarks.
Nepal Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri said the Prime Minister's comments refer to issues "related to boundary pillars, no-man's land (dashgaja), and cross-border land usage".
He explained that, based on technical studies, there are areas where land currently used by Nepal may fall on the Indian side, and vice versa.
Nepal Foreign Ministry said the government remains committed to resolving boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue based on historical treaties, maps and agreements.
Jaiswal last month responded to media queries regarding comments made by the Foreign Ministry of Nepal on the border issue in the context of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and said India's position in this regard had been consistent and clear.
"Lipulekh Pass has been a long standing route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954 and the Yatra through this route has been going on for decades. This is not a new development. As regards territorial claims, India has consistently maintained that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable," Jaiswal said.
"India remains open to a constructive interaction with Nepal on all issues in the bilateral relationship, including on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The fact that 98% of the border is already demarcated shows how close we are to resolving this. The Gandak River shifting is a natural phenomenon and both sides need to work together on mapping. Nepal PM's suggestion to involve China is worrying—why would we bring in a country that has its own territorial disputes with us? Let's keep it between India and Nepal.
MEA is right to shut down any talk of third-party involvement. Nepal and India have a special relationship—open borders, shared culture, and deep ties. Bringing in China would be like calling an outsider into a family dispute. The Lipulekh Pass issue is also clear: it's been used for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for decades. Nepal should stick to facts and historical evidence.
It's unfortunate that Nepal PM made such remarks. India has always been a reliable partner for Nepal, helping with infrastructure, development, and disaster relief. The border issues are minor compared to the overall relationship. Both sides should focus on dialogue rather than making statements that could be misused by other countries. I hope wisdom prevails in Kathmandu.
I appreciate India's consistent position on this. But I also feel we need to be more empathetic towards Nepal's concerns. The shifting river is a real issue affecting people on both sides. Maybe there could be more joint surveys and community-level discussions to build trust. Still, involving China is definitely not the answer—that would set a dangerous precedent for other neighbours.
The Nepal PM's comments were clearly out of line, and even Nepal's
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