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Nepal’s border dispute with India over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura resurfaced on Wednesday, weeks before Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s visit to New Delhi.
The row follows an agreement between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to reopen three trading routes, including Lipulekh. Kathmandu says the deal was struck without its consent and undermines its sovereignty. On Thursday, lawmakers across party lines raised the issue in Parliament. “Unilaterally deciding the use of Nepali territory is not acceptable,” members declared.
Kamal Thapa, Former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal urged Oli to raise the matter in his upcoming visits to Beijing and New Delhi. Mahesh Bartaula, Chief Whip of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-UML called the India-China understanding “a dilution of Nepal’s sovereignty.” Nepali Congress leader Bishwa Prakash Sharma said all parties were united on the issue.
Oli will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China later this month and will travel to India on September 16.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said areas east of the Mahakali River, including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, are “integral parts of Nepali territory.” It said India and China had been formally told not to carry out activities there.
India, meanwhile, rejected Nepal’s claims. “Border trade through Lipulekh has existed since 1954. It was disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments. Both sides have now agreed to resume it.”
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