Topics Covered: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
India- Nepal border dispute
What to study?
For Prelims: Overview of India- Nepal border, disputed regions.
For Mains: Origins of these disputes, efforts to address them and need of the hour.
Context: Inauguration of the new link road from India to China to shorten the travel time for pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar.
Key facts:
- The link road starts from Dharchula in Uttarakhand and runs 80 km to the Lipulekh pass.
- It has been built by the Border Roads Organisation.
What’s the issue now?
Nepal has claimed that the ‘Link Road’ connecting to Lipulekh passes through Nepali territory.
Nepal claims that India’s move marks a breach of the agreement reached between the Indian Prime Minister and Nepal PM in 2014 which sought to work out the outstanding boundary issues on Kalapani (where Lipulekh lies) and Susta.
India’s response:
The Ministry of External Affairs of India has clarified that the link road passing through Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district lies completely within the territory of India.
- India has also clarified that the new link road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
- India has stated that the boundary delineation exercise with Nepal is ongoing, and that India is committed to resolving outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue and in the spirit of our close and friendly bilateral relations with Nepal.
Where is the disputed territory located?
Kalapani is located at an altitude of 3600m on the Kailash Manasarovar route.
- It borders Uttarakhand in India and Sudurpashchim Pradesh in Nepal.
- Since the Indo-China war of 1962, Kalapani is controlled by India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
Genesis of the dispute:
Under the treaty of Sugauli signed between Nepal and the British East India Company in 1816, the Kali River was located as Nepal’s western boundary with India.
- It, however, made no mention of a ridgeline and subsequent maps of the areas drawn by British surveyors showed the source of the Kali river at different places.
- This discrepancy has led to the boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps including the territory in their own area to support their claims. The exact size of the Kalapani territory also varies in different sources.
Sources: pib.
