India-Nepal border tension rises again

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah's words in parliament revived the border dispute between India and Nepal focused on Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani...

Scraper SystemJune 02, 2026, 07:12 PM

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah, in a speech in parliament, said that Nepal might have also intervened in Indian territory in some places, reigniting the border tension between the two countries. Shah's words were considered a different stance compared to Nepal's previous position; because Kathmandu generally followed an attitude accusing the neighboring country of occupying its own lands. The 35-year-old Shah, in his first official address to the country's federal parliament as prime minister, brought up an allegation he said he had recently learned. Shah stated that not only India but also Nepal might have intervened in areas belonging to India in many places. However, he did not clearly specify which regions he meant. The Nepalese leader said that both countries should sit down, review the documents together, and resolve the issue amicably. This statement caused anger in the Nepalese Parliament and brought the border issue back to the center of the political agenda. India and Nepal share an open land border of approximately 1,800 kilometers. Citizens of both countries do not need a visa to cross this border. However, the western Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani line has long been a disputed area. The root of the dispute dates back to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. Nepal signed this treaty with the British colonial administration after the Anglo-Nepal War, and the text defining the western border stated that the land remained west of the Kali River. However, the exact origin of the river was not clearly defined, and no map was attached to the text. This deficiency has kept the historical debate over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani alive for years. The Nepalese side argues that the Kali River originates from Limpiyadhura. India, on the other hand, claims the river starts from Lipulekh and that the border should be drawn accordingly. According to Nepalese experts, the limited availability of the country's own historical maps has also complicated the debate. It is noted that Kathmandu had to rely on maps published by British India for a long time. Therefore, old border drawings still hold importance in diplomatic negotiations today. The Indian side bases its claim regarding the region on revenue records dating back to the 1830s. It is argued that these records indicate the area, now part of India's Uttarakhand state, was historically governed by India. It has long been known that Indian soldiers are stationed in Kalapani. The military presence in the area was strengthened after the 1962 war between India and China. Nepal chose to remain neutral between its two large neighbors at that time. The tension was not limited to the parliamentary speech alone. Last month, India announced it would reopen a religious pilgrimage route through the disputed Lipulekh Pass. This route had been suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This step also brought the border dispute back into visibility. Shah's words were found notable in Nepal not only for the border issue but also in terms of the country's foreign policy stance. The debate once again revealed that the old file between the two neighbors is still not closed and that map, history, and sovereignty issues must be read together.

India-Nepal border tension rises again

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah's words in parliament revived the border dispute between India and Nepal focused on Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani...