Nepal PM says Britain was not asked to mediate border dispute with India

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday clarified that his government has not sought Britain's mediation to resolve the long-standing border dispute with India, stressing that the issue would be addressed through bilateral talks between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking at the first general convention of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Chitwan district, Shah said Nepal had only referred to the possibility of presenting historical evidence from the British colonial period if required during discussions on the boundary issue.

“We said that if evidence from the time of British rule (in India) is needed, we will bring it. We didn't ask for their mediation," he said.

Cross-border occupation between Nepal and India

The clarification comes amid controversy surrounding Shah's earlier remarks in Parliament and days after Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal informed lawmakers that a joint working group would address issues related to cross-border occupation between Nepal and India.

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New Delhi has consistently maintained that any border-related issues between the two countries should be resolved through bilateral dialogue and has rejected the involvement of any third party.

Addressing criticism over his previous statements, Shah urged his opponents not to misinterpret his position on the matter.

"We will resolve the issue by holding talks with our neighbour; there is no need to worry about that," the Prime Minister said.

Nepal's national interest

He also defended his commitment to Nepal's national interests, stating, "Nobody should doubt his commitment to nationality. Nobody should doubt that."

The controversy stems from comments Shah made in Parliament last month, when he said Nepal had encroached on Indian territories at different locations and suggested that China and the United Kingdom had been involved in efforts to address the issue. His remarks triggered political debate both within Nepal and abroad.

Following the backlash, Nepal's Foreign Ministry clarified that Shah's comments were related to no-man's land and issues of cross-border occupation rather than any formal request for foreign mediation.

Nepal-India territorial dispute

Nepal and India have a long-standing territorial dispute involving the areas of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. Both countries claim sovereignty over the regions. India maintains that the territories are part of Uttarakhand and has repeatedly stated that the matter should be resolved through established bilateral mechanisms.

Reiterating Nepal's claim, Shah said, "We have proof about Kalapani and Lipulekh belonging to our territory. If they (India) have proof, they can also show."